Much Ado In a Park

(L to R) Barry, Emma Knott, George Lorimer and ​Caroline Norton in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Summit Players.

​Shakespeare’s longevity has much to do with the adaptability of his scripts. Though it is strictly a comedy, Much Ado About Nothing can be done with serious intensity and dramatic depth. This summer Maureen Kilmurry directs a touring production of Much Ado for Summit Players Theatre that leans gratifyingly in the direction of pleasantly light comedy without compromising the seriousness of much of the drama.

The story of love, deception and false accusations is staged with minimal set and costuming in an outdoor space. The sleek 70-minute (or so) story glides gracefully from beginning to end in a way that engages audiences of all ages. Summit veteran Caroline Norton is intricately comic in the role of the reluctant romantic heroine Beatrice. Norton has spent quite a few summers in the intimate outdoor spaces that Summit haunts every year. This gives her an impressive range of motion and emotion for Shakespeare’s comedy. The rest of the cast is making its first appearance with The Summit Players. The Summit Players program involves everyone in the ensemble camping together at various parks all over Wisconsin. This can't help but bring a cast together in a way few programs could. 

George Lorimer is admirably charismatic as Benedick to Norton’s Beatrice. The egotistical end of the character has a tendency to hit the stage more prominently than anything else in a performance. Lorimer plays to a far more humble confidence in the role that serves it quite well. Matching Lorimer’s charisma step-for-step is Ogunde Snelling Jr. who makes for dashingly wise Don Pedro.

King Hang passionately delivers the more serious dramatic end of the story in the role of Claudio, who has fallen the beautiful, young girl named Hero. Emma Knott makes a very sympathetic Hero, but the contrast between her Hero and the other two characters makes for a stronger impression than any one of the people she’s playing. Knott is engagingly comic as the constable Dogberry (who is always in the company of his pet dog: a plushie dog named...Barry.) She makes a delightfully musical appearance as Balthasar as well. Not to be outdone, Maya Danks hits very clever marks in no fewer than FIVE roles including a classically villainous Don John in with elegant posture in a swirling black cape and waiting gentlewoman Ursula in a pleasantly Sconnie accent.

Design elements are always fun in a Summit Players show. Scenic Designer Carl Eiche’s rolled-up painted backdrops get used to particularly clever comic effect in the pair of scenes in which Beatrice and Benedick rush into hiding. Amelia Strahan’s minimalist costuming serves so many clever purposes...it’s simple and lightweight, allowing it to take up little space on tour...it’s comfy enough to be worn in the heat of summer AND it’s iconic enough to quickly and easily differentiate between characters who must swiftly switch between characters. And...y’know...Maya Danks is just so cool with Don John’s black villain’s cape. (This is  a really fun show.)

Summit Players Theatre’s production of Much Ado About Nothing runs through Aug. 20th at various state parks all over Wisconsin. For dates and tour stops, visit The Summit Players Online. All performances are free to attend.