Review: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Cyrano's Theatre Company

Strap on your chunky heals, put on your bellbottoms and groove on down to Cyrano's for Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing directed by Theresa Pond.

Self-proclaimed bachelor Benedick (Charlie Cardwell) falls in love with stubborn Beatrice (Gigi Lynch) after his friends Don Pedro (Evan Carson), Claudio (Tai Yen Kim), and Leonato (David Hayes) devise a match-making scheme with Beatrice's friends. Likewise, Beatrice swoons when her gossipy cousin Hero (Shaelisa Anderson) talks of Benedick's love of Beatrice. Meanwhile, Don Pedro assists Claudio is winning over Hero's affection. Sibling to Don Pedro, Don John (Jill Sowerwine) stirs up trouble, literally causing much ado about nothing.

Shakespeare plays can go one of two ways: The acting can be awful. You sit for over two hours, hating your life, dearly regretting the money and the time spent. Alternatively, if the acting is good, antiquated language is spoken naturally and in easily understood by the audience. Last Saturday's production was thankfully the latter. Lynch wonderfully animated her character. Cardwell brought tears of laughter during one monologue. Cardwell, Carson, Haynes, and Kim played off each other's energy, creating such laughter it was evident each was on the edge of breaking character. Anderson and Kim exhibited a wide range of acting ability, each being tasked with comedic punchlines, and heartfelt verses. It didn't matter how many lines any actor spoke-even those with bit parts caused the audience to roar with laugher by a slight tilt of the head, a brush of a shoe, or an eye squint.Many moments within this performance should have failed--yet were pulled off effortlessly. The blocking--so lively and comedic--could have seemed forced, but it flowed. The tears streaming down faces could have seem ingenuine, but they were real. The music could have seemed corny, but it blended seamlessly to the point where the audience sang along. Pond's choice of casting actors in their 60s to play the leads, traditionally roles reserved for those in their twenties, fit perfectly, and was well deserving of the actors' talents.

It's impossible to leave Much Ado About Nothing's performance without beaming. Pond and the team of highly talented individuals should be extremely proud of this performance.

Cyrano's Production of Much Ado About Nothing,will be playing from now until October 7th. Tickets are available at CenterTix.com.

Photo Credit: Flavin Photography