Chaminade University students and community members are invited to enjoy a quirky modern play based on a William Shakespeare classic.
‘Much Ado’ opens on November 14, and the box office is already busy. Tickets for opening night have sold out, but the Chaminade Drama Club is staging five more performances at the Vi and Paul Loo Theatre on campus, with chances to view the show during the week and on weekends.
The play is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ the 14th Century romantic comedy that’s as funny and relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago.
This modern rendition, ‘Much Ado,’ features a smaller cast, shortened script, and some revised dialogue, while keeping true to the source material.
“It’s a bit shorter than the original,” said Patrick Block, an Instructor at Chaminade University’s Department of Visual & Performing Arts and Advisor to the Drama Club. “Characters have been edited out or merged to suit the cast size that is right for Chaminade, and the dialogue has been trimmed or gently modified in places to make it clearer.”
Set in Messina, Italy, during the Renaissance, the play tells the story of a group of friends returned from military victory and in the mood for celebration. The group’s attention quickly turns toward rumors of love surrounding two couples: Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero.
Supporting characters spend the play trying to either fan the flames of romance or snuff them out entirely.
“The play revolves around these two couples and various schemes to either get them together or break them apart,” Block explained.
Andrew Erwin, a member of the cast and graduate student in the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program, said the play will appeal to modern audiences despite the root material.
“It’s been translated by our wonderful director, Patrick Block,” he said. “Patrick translated it so the audience will get the jokes. It’s funny.”
‘Much Ado’ has been in production for months; the first rehearsal was held September 4. The cast is composed mainly of Chaminade Students, members of the Drama Club who have worked tirelessly around their busy schedules, rehearsing lines, studying choreography, and hitting their marks on cue.
Two community members are also lending their talents to the production.
“These students are really outstanding,” Block said. “They are bringing their A-game to this production, and they are joined by two community actors who are incredible talents. The production environment has been so positive thanks to the cast’s innate positivity.”
“I think the audience will feel the joyfulness and the love,” he added.
Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, November 14 at 7 pm at the Loo Theatre inside Clarence T.C. Ching Hall.
Curious members of the Chaminade community and the public will have further chances to see the play on Sunday, November 15 at 2 pm; Thursday, November 19 at 7 pm; Friday, November 20 at 7 pm; Saturday, November 21 at 7 pm; and finally Sunday, November 22 at 2 pm.
Tickets to ‘Much Ado’ are on sale now.
Addie Nash, a cast member and freshman majoring in English, said she’s looking forward to taking the stage and entertaining the crowd in her debut performance.
“This group has really brought me out of my shell,” she said.