William Shakespeare
Off the Ground Theatre
Plas Newydd, Llangollen
July 26, 2024; 2 hrs
(touring to Burnley Jul 27, Birkenhead, Liverpool, Wirral and several venues in Ireland)
A summer evening, the sun - unusually - shining, a picnic and the backdrop of a famous country house should make for a most pleasant evening's entertainment. Would Off the Ground's production of Much Ado about Nothing match up to expectations?
Much Ado is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, but is also one that veers close to tragedy. Soldiers Benedick and Claudio return from war for a summer of love and partying, but what follows is a couple of tangled love trysts that are nearly sabotaged by the jealous Don John.
Benedick and Beatrice have some great sparring dialogue as their love-hate relationship develops into one of love-love. An oddity of the play is that the supposed "support act" is more engrossing than the main pair. Claudio has reason to suspect Hero has been unfaithful to him and publicly exposes her - such that her father, Leonato, suggest she would be better off dead. But the villain is exposed, runs for her life and the couples have their happy ending.
The cast demonstrates a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment in the drama and confidence in the handling of Shakespeare's exquisite language. Connor Wray as Benedick has good stage presence and entertains with slapstick elements of the role, while Philip Raynor shows authority as Don Pedro and Chloe Hughes is suitably Machiavellian as Don John. The second act becomes more intense as the drama unfolds and cast members warm to their task.
This production is set after the end of World War II, allowing it the feel of Shakespeare's original with some great 1940s music as a backdrop. There is a disconnect between language and setting though, since the play is unmodified and the 1940s setting goes no further than music and costumes.
The Off the Ground company is approaching its 30th year and has a history of nurturing young talent. Several of this cast, including director Ben Newman and leading man Connor Wray, passed through its ranks. This is a young company with members keen to establish or extend professional careers, and if the performance I saw was any indication, many current company members have a lot to contribute to the world of theatre.
Tickets and information here
