Oak
Park Festival Theatre
Katie Jeep as
Beatrice, Kevin Theis as Benedict,
Steve Lenz as Claudio and Brianne Wilson as Hero
photo by Michael Rothman
Steve Lenz as Claudio and Brianne Wilson as Hero
photo by Michael Rothman
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
Review by Ed Vincent
Much Ado About Nothing is a well known comedy by William Shakespeare, loaded with a tempest of irony and enough glandular fencing to make almost anyone's personal travails
pale in comparison.
Published in 1600, Oak Park Festival Theatre's production is
set in costumes of the play's original time. Often the bard's tales are set in the 70's or 80's, which at times can work just fine and perhaps give it relevance to the present day --when words fail
to charm the audience....this is not the case this year.
The play was written to be staged in Messina, a small town on the coast of Sicily ---and the staged platform in Austin Gardens
does appear to jut up from the sea of grass..similar to an island.
I enjoy Shakespeare's written word and the oration of those words is what separates the actors from ordinary hominids.
Claudio, played by Steve Lenz and Hero, played by Brianne Wilson portray their roles beautifully. The other lovers, loaded with enough emotional and psychological baggage to keep a
small University in research funds for studies in amore, are played by Katie Jeep, as the sharp toothed Beatrice and her lover to be Kevin Theis, as the eternal bachelor Benedick. The major characters were flawless in their deliveries, the sound system and lighting were on the money and the weather was beautiful...even the insects were laughing.
This was a wonderful production and Jack Hickey should be proud of his work and those of the fine company in this year's chosen Shakespeare piece.
Get your tickets and bring a friend, a sandwich, something to drink, and you'll enjoy your tirp to Sicily.
"Highly Recommended" Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
Katie Jeep as
Beatrice, Kevin Theis as Benedict,
Steve Lenz as Claudio and Brianne Wilson as Hero
photo by Michael Rothman
Steve Lenz as Claudio and Brianne Wilson as Hero
photo by Michael Rothman
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, directed by Jack Hickey. A classic comedy about two couples, with a bit of everything - romance, humor, treachery, "a showdown between the sexes." Can Beatrice and Benedick's friends trick them into love? In period costume.
Performances June 13 thru July 19
Previews Wednesday June 11 & Thurs. June 12
Thursdays thru Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 7pm
(No performance on Friday, July 4)
Much Ado About Nothing Cast & Crew Click on their name for bio and headshot
Jack Hickey - Director (Member, Actors Equity Association)
Robert W. Behr - Stage Manager (Member, Actors Equity Association)
Anthony Bianco - Don John
Adam Breske - Conrade
Stanton Davis - Don Pedro
David Elliott - Leonato
Katie Jeep -Beatrice (Member, Actors Equity Association)
Steve Lenz - Claudio
Dan Marco - Antonio
Mike Miserendino - Balthasar/Mess.
Jhenai Mootz - Margaret
Zoe Palko - Ursula
Steve Scholz - Verges
Brian Simmons - Dogberry
Jerome St. Jerome - Friar/Sexton
Zeke Sulkes - Boraccio
Kevin Theis - Benedick (Member, Actors Equity Association)
Brianne Wilson - Hero
Rebecca Hamlin - Set Designer
Kyle Irwin - Sound Designer
Jeremy Getz - Lighting Designer
Kerith Wolf - Costume Designer
Zoe Palko & Brianne Wilson - Choreographers
Tramon A. Crofford - Prop Design
Paul Martin - Production Assistant
Kevin McCauley - Prop Master
Ursula Forhan - Costume Mistress
Jessie Affelder - Graphic Artist
Michael Rothman - Photographer
Galen Gockel - Managing Director
Mary Cowart - Box Office Manager
Becca Chimis,David Wawzenek- Production Assistants
Carissa Gerber - Sound Board Operator
Christopher Wilham - Master Electrician/Light Board Operator
Allison Marie Smith, Kelly C. Smith - Costume Assistants
Rosa Pergams, Emily Goldberg, Mara Dale - House Assistants
Katrin Sticha, Paul Martin - Management Assistants
Stephanie Avalos-Bock, Becca Chimis, Mara Dale, Carissa Gerber, Emily Goldberg, Paul Martin, Rosa Pergams, Allison Smith, Kelly Smith, Karen Sticha, David Wawzenak, Christopher Wilham - Interns
"Friendship is constant in all other things,
Save in the office and affairs of love." - Claudio, Act. II, Scene I
Tickets, Thursdays - $22 Adults
Thursdays - $17 Seniors/Students
Fridays thru Sundays - $27 Adults
Friday thru Sundays - $22 Seniors/Students
Family Days, Sundays June 22 & 29 - Performances of Much Ado will begin at 5:00pm; no 7:00pm performances.
Senior/Student Nights on June 19 and 26 - $10 (Regular ticket Thursday ticket prices apply for Adults)
Theatre Industry Nights on June 19 and 26 - $10 with headshot and resume or theatre industry card
Purchase your tickets online
Already a subscriber? Click here, and then log on to your account. Select your performance, and bring your eTicket receipt to the box office. Don't want to buy your tickets online? You may call our office to make a reservation. 708-445-4440
Outdoors in Austin Gardens, 100 block of N. Forest, Oak Park. Get directions to Austin Gardens Parking in garage on Forest, across from theatre gate entrance.
http://www.oakparkfestival.com/
Close to home and intimate. Free parking for the
night shows right across the street from Austin
Gardens. Austin Gardens is right behind the
Lake Theater on Lake and Forest Ave.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
STARSHIP SUBS, Soups, Catering, and more...