By Elyse Trevers
One of the highlights of the summer is the free Shakespeare in the Park presented by the Public Theater. This season has been especially rainy, and, in fact, it rained for days leading up to my scheduled performance. It even poured that morning, the first day of summer. Fortunately, the clouds departed and the skies cleared. A good sign!
It turned out to be an ideal night under the stars at the Delacorte Theater to enjoy one of Shakespeare’s comedies, “Much Ado About Nothing.” Directed by Kenny Leon, the play is about a couple who resist their affection for one another. Then, their friends intervene and manipulate them into revealing their true feelings. When Beatrice “eavesdrops,” she hears that Benedick is madly in love with her. She runs through the theater, trying to hear and hide at the same time.
As Beatrice, Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black”) is delightful, especially for the audience member who she sat on her lap to hide behind. Benedick “learns” that Beatrice is mad about him. Even in hiding, Benedick is full of motion, swaying along to the music. After overhearing their friends, they declare their love for one another. When Beatrice and Benedick (Grantham Coleman) are onstage, the show is electric. Together or apart, they provide energy, delivering their lives with a modern cadence, attitude and swagger.
While Beatrice and Benedick provide the laughter and excitement, the other lovers, Hero and Claudio provide the lessons and reality. The second love story concerns the beautiful Hero (Margaret Odette) and Claudio (Jeremie Harris) who meet, instantly fall in love and arrange to marry. It doesn’t go smoothly, however, when the villain, Don John, plots to discredit his brother, Don Pedro who arranged the match. Don Pedro and Claudio “witness” another man entering Hero’s window and hear a young woman expressing love for him. Claudio vilifies Hero on their wedding day, publicly announcing that she is not virtuous. Immediately, everyone including her father, Leonato, (the always wonderful Chuck Cooper) assume the worst and she is “stained.”
Kenny Leon successfully directs an all-black cast in a play that feels more 21st century than 16th century. When a woman is slandered, her reputation is questioned and her future is dramatically impacted. Immediately, she is placed on the defensive. Immediately she is presumed guilty.
The play begins with a political theme and feels current. When a regiment returns from an unnamed conflict, the soldiers bear placards such as, “Hate is not a family value.” Beatrice makes her entrance singing Marvin Gaye’s song, “What’s Going On,” which is then juxtaposed with another performer singing “America.“ Leonato’s huge home, gorgeous scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, bears two signs that read “Stacy Abrams 2020.” After the introductory moments, however, there is little more politicizing.
The show feels like it’s set in the present-day or near-future. Military costumes are very modern, sleek and formfitting, but they also make some of the secondary male character harder to distinguish. The women are in modern garb and would look appropriate today. (Costume design by Emilio Sosa.)
The version of this play is special in that it reflects modern attitudes and relevancy while adhering to the script. When Hero is vindicated, her father determines that the original marriage is to take place. First, Hero reacts and gives Claudio a resounding slap in the face (my guess is that the slap isn’t in Shakespeare’s version). However, after that, she kisses him, and all is forgiven. Leon’s women aren’t as docile and subservient as Shakespeare’s, despite the fact that they are still subject to male domination. Of course, marriage is the general goal for women, but these women seem feistier; they have opinions and speak up.
“Much Ado About Nothing” is a comedy, so all’s well that ends well (oops, other play.) However, the lovers get together until the soldiers must leave again and march off; war doesn’t wait for love. If you missed the show this month, be of good cheer. This summer’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing” will be filmed by WNET for Great Performances. So you can catch it on television and not have to worry about the rain.
