One of the Best Plays at Stratford this year: Much Ado About Nothing

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It is far from nothing. There is much to say about the Stratford production of Much Ado About Nothing. Considered one of the best plays at Stratford this year, this year’s production, directed by Chris Abraham, is funny, wildly entertaining and a must-see show at the Stratford Festival in 2023. One of the most popular of Shakespeare’s comedies, it would be a struggle to follow the plot, but Abraham’s direction and the additional text by Erin Shields will help you get through it without losing your way.

Much Ado About Nothing at Stratford

This production invites the audience in with a wink and a nod, to get in on an inside joke turned long-con prank. Most notable is the hilarious lead, Graham Abbey. Like every good rom-com, the two main characters love nothing more than to hate each other. Resuming his long-running merry war of wits, bachelor Benedick (Abbey) and bachelorette Beatrice (Maev Beaty) prepare for the upcoming marriage of their cousin, Hero (Allison Edwards-Crewe) and friend Claudio (Austin Eckert).

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What stood out for us was the interaction of the characters with the audience. Because the Festival Theatre stage is limited by the semi-circle of seats surrounding it, productions often have characters entering from the back of the theatre and descending the stairs. Or, you may have players in the aisle, right beside you. Abraham’s production even employed players on the balcony holding lanterns to make the scene moody and interactive. This movement breaks the fourth wall and by doing so, makes the audience part of the production. In the scene favoured by my son, the direct interaction between Benedick and an audience member – asking him to actually participate makes this Shakespearean play more accessible to modern-day audiences.

The storyline is familiar to anyone who loves a good romance movie but in many ways, this play is all about change and how we can change – willingly or not. The circumstances of our transformation can be self-fulfilled or imposed by others, albeit through trickery. The friends of our two protagonists conspire to change them from steadfast spinster and bachelor to a loving couple. False tales are woven of them professing their love of the other. These tall tales are then overheard by both Benedick and Beatrice. The lengths these two go to to eavesdrop are worth the price of admission as the physical comedy by Abbey and Beaty is spot on.

“As a theatre director, I love Shakespeare’s comedies – more than almost any other kind of play in the world,” says Abraham. “I love their enormous challenges, but I also love the opportunities they open up for us to be hopeful about change… When this alchemy surfaces, his [Shakespeare] comedies can feel like they have magical properties – that they can change the world.”

Chris Abraham, Director, Much Ado About Nothing

The ensemble cast, as per usual, is excellent. There are, however, minor roles that stand out encouraging you to laugh at the expense of the star-crossed lovers, Ursula (Akosua Amo-Adem) and Dogberry (Josue Laboucane) come to mind. Also making the hit list is The Watch – who police the grounds and stumble across the culprits who have wreaked havoc on the nuptials. Their banter and physical comedy are just great.

At first, I was unsure as to why they are even part of the play but came to understand (thanks to the Director’s note in the playbill) Dogberry and the Watch provide comic relief in a play that takes a dark turn. Listen closely to the dialogue as they stumble with incorrect words or mispronunciations creating very funny scenes. Shakespeare wrote these malapropisms for comedic effect and the Stratford ensemble delivers.

The darker story is that of Don John (Michael Blake) half-brother of Don Pedro (André Sills) who, out of jealousy and mean-spiritedness, plots to break up the nuptials between young Claudio and Nero by spreading lies about Nero’s infidelity. Both Blake and Sills, carry their roles effortlessly as long-time Stratford Festival players. These are minor roles for them as they have been Stratford Festival leads in Othello and Coriolanus respectively.

Much Ado About Nothing is about so many things: feminism, misogyny, hypocrisy, relationships, miscommunication, loyalty, heartbreak and triumph. It is a play “filled with micro-intrigues”. Characters are constantly spying on each other and speaking in riddles so miscommunication and misinterpretation become the driving force of the plot. All of this comes together to make Much Ado About Nothing one of the best plays at Stratford this year. I loved it so much, I’m going back with my sister later this month – it’s THAT good.

Additional Details

Learn more about this production

Peer Into the Playbill: Sex and Shakespeare –
Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre – Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 10:30 AM

Long before illicit magazines or webcams, Shakespeare knew that sex sells. His works have titillated audiences and academics for centuries. From the failed swearing-off of sex in Love’s Labour’s Lost to Beatrice and Benedick’s lusty banter in Much Ado About Nothing, Maev Beaty moderates this passionate discussion about the conduct of Shakespeare’s characters in courtship and love with Professor Paul Yachnin from McGill University, Love’s Labour’s Lost director Peter Pasyk, and Professor Kim Solga of Western University.

Ticket: $29 available online

Lobby Talks – Festival Theatre Lobby

Insights into some of our Classical titles with members of the Langham Directors’ Workshop and Special Guests. 

Much Ado About Nothing
• July 20 | 11 a.m.-noon
• August 9 | 11 a.m.-noon
• August 22 | 5-6 p.m.
• September 21 | 5-6 p.m.

Tickets: Free but you should register online

Past Performance Reviews

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