"Much Ado" at Kenyon
Martine Kei Green, visiting instructor of drama, is directing the play, which she called "a light comedy with a funky, dark edge." Green is bringing a contemporary Victorian spin to the production. English writer and director James Topham has said the comedy "plays out a number of Shakespeare's best loved themes: confusion between lovers, the battle of the sexes, and the restoration of love and marriage."
The audience will enjoy the dancing and singing and the wedding - "all the fun things that make a Shakespeare comedy a Shakespeare comedy," Green said. "We're trying hard to incorporate the audience. Don't be surprised if people start talking directly to you." The cast includes a diverse group, with students across all classes and including a mix of drama majors and others. Standouts include Matt Peck, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., as Benedick; Hannah Fenlon, of Greencastle, Ind., as Beatrice; and Will Dagger of Glen Ellyn, Ill., as Dogberry.
Other cast members include: Laura Barati of Los Angeles as Ursula; Will Cirocco of San Francisco as Borachio; Angela Coleman of Philadelphia as sexton/attendant; Bennett Davidson of Nashville, Tenn., as Claudio; Kristen Dolan of Philadelphia as Margaret; Jack Dwyer of Wheaton, Ill., as Antonio; Phil Fine of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., as Conrade; Carling FitzSimmons of Oak Park, Ill., as first watchman; Shelley Fort of Kearney, Neb., as Hero; Allison Goldsmith of Plymouth, Mich., as Verges; Jamal Jordan of Southfield, Mich., as Friar Francis; Kate Kremer of Shoreline, Wash., as messenger; Amanda Martin of Calabasas, Calif., as Balthasar's sidekick; Dan Takacs of Solon, Ohio, as Leonato; Sam Turner of Mount Vernon, Ohio, as second watchman; Clay von Carlowitz of Mentor, Ohio, as Don Pedro; and James Weeks, of Princeton, N.J., as Don John.
The production team includes students Ken Worrall of Westerville, Ohio, as assistant director; Alison Beyrle of Washington, D.C., as production stage manager; and Griffin Horn of New Hope, Pa., as dramaturge. Hugh Lester, visiting professor of drama, is the set and lighting designer, and Andrew Reinert, associate professor of drama, is the costume designer.
Tickets are $5 for general admission, $2.50 for group admission, $2 for seniors/non-Kenyon students/children, and $1 for Kenyon students. To reserve tickets, call the Bolton box office at 740-427-5546.