MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with The Rep

By Mary Boyle
 
For people who aren’t Shakespearean aficionados or very familiar with the Bard, Much Ado About Nothing is an excellent entry play because it feels so modern.  Fans of the sharp, witty bickering and banter between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice will be delighted by the exchanges between Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado (In fact, one can’t help but wonder if Jane Austen’s famous couple was inspired by Shakespeare).  Shakespeare’s incredible ability to frame the perfect insult is on full display in this play, to hilarious results, along with a bit of tragedy thrown in for good measure, which makes for an altogether pleasing live theatre experience.  This season, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater is bringing this modern-feeling play to a very modern era by setting MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING in the early 90’s and, believe it or not, it not only works, it’s pure genius!

Directed by Laura Braza, Much Ado is a romantic comedy focused on two couples: Beatrice and Benedick (Alex Keiper and Nate Burger) and Hero and Claudio (Sarah Suzuki and Kenneth Hamilton).  Soldiers returning home from the Gulf War under the command of Don Pedro (Mark Corkins) have been invited to stay on the estate of Leonato (Jonathan Gillard Daly).  The return of Benedick is mocked by Leonato’s niece, Beatrice, who has been engaging in a “merry war” with Benedick for some time.  Claudio, a friend and fellow soldier to Benedick, is instantly smitten with Hero, Leonato’s only child and heir.  Don Pedro assures Claudio that he will make the arrangements with Leonato so the two might be wed.  Alas, Leonato’s half-brother, Don John (Michelle Shupe), is always looking for an opportunity to cause trouble for Leonato and makes plans to destroy the happy union with help from Borachio (Drew Mitchell).  In the meantime, Don Pedro enlists Claudio, Hero, and Hero’s friends, Ursula (Jenny Hoppes) and Margaret (Katrien Van Riel), in his plan to bring Beatrice and Benedick, who have both sworn to remain single, together.

Then, of course, there’s the Dogberry and Balthasar bit.  You see, there’s a very dimwitted constable and his partner who are charged with security around the town and they, along with their new recruits, accidentally discover Don John’s dastardly plan.  Michael Doherty, who I am a huge fan of, takes the already funny role of Dogberry to an entirely new level (which may or may cross a line for some audience members) with the help of some early 90’s humor and Will Mobley as his sidekick, Balthasar.  You will either be roaring with laughter or uncomfortably disgusted – there’s really no in between on this one.  Fun fact: Michael Doherty happens to be married to Alex Keiper who plays Beatrice, and this is not their first time appearing together on The Rep’s stage (The Nerd).

What’s truly amazing about this production is how well the play works in the early 90’s.  Music Director and Composer Dan Kazemi married Shakespeare’s lyrics to the Grunge sound of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam and turned out some songs that fit the era so well you wouldn’t know the words were from 400 years ago.  Costumes by Mieka van der Ploeg are spot on, including a replica Kurt Cobain sweater that Benedick wears towards the end of the show.  Speaking of Benedick, should you have been so lucky to see Nate Burger as Hamlet at American Players Theatre this past summer, you already know that Nate Burger and Shakespeare go together like peanut butter and jelly (and if you didn’t, now you know).  Much Ado is already a very accessible play as far as Shakespeare goes, but Nate Burger makes it even more so because the language seems so much a part of him and, as if that weren’t enough, he plays guitar! 

In fact, several of the actors get to fulfill their 90’s rock icon dreams in this production, including Will Mobley, Alex Keiper, and particularly Katrien Van Riel, who gets to be a brunette Courtney Love.  There are some points where it feels more like a concert than a play, which is fun, and there are plenty of nods to the musicians, fashion, and pop culture of the times to delight any child of the 80’s or 90’s.  The cast, as a whole, is incredibly talented and features a mix of veterans and actors making their Rep debut.  Mark Corkins and Jonathan Gillard Daly, two of Milwaukee’s finest and seen often at The Rep, are perfect for their roles.  I, unfortunately, was unable to see Alex Keiper (Ring of Fire) as Beatrice, but Jaelyn Raeford did it justice as the understudy.  All in all, this is one Shakespearean production you do not want to miss.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING runs through February 12th at the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, located within the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex, at 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490, or in-person at the Theater Complex. Group tickets are available for parties 10+ by calling 414-290-5340. 
 
About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin with three unique performance venues in the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex– the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret. For over six decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive, and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.