Physical shtick downplayed in 'Ado'

Actor and director Michael Goldberg knows how to move. Whether he's doing some intensely physical comic sketch or performing in one of Shozo Sato's Kabuki pieces, he moves with grace and power. That's why it is surprising that Goldberg had decided to minimize the physical movements in his version of "Much Ado About Nothing," opening tonight at the First Folio Shakespeare Festival in Oak Brook.

"The language in that play is so wonderful," Goldberg says, "And so much of the play depends upon the audience understanding what the actors are saying, I decided not to put a lot of physical shtick into it."

The play, about two couples, one young and fresh, the other older but no wiser, and all the comic twists and turns that ensue in each of their relationships, is packed with moments when the couples, and others, have conflicting views of what is going on. These views of reality are front and center in Goldberg's production.

Which is not to say the play has no shtick in it. There is a hilarious courtroom scene in which a fool by the name of Dogberry, almost accidentally, trips up the bad guys.

"That is a natural place," Goldberg says, "but I have (Chicago actor) John Reeger in that role. He is such an amazing performer and he has such a wonderful voice, such a great way with the language. He knows how to balance the physical and the verbal, not too much - just enough."

Not too much, just enough, is an apt description of Goldberg's concept for the show. "Much Ado" is a play that seems to invite high concept versions. Currently at Chicago Shakespeare, for example, there is an all-rap version of the play.

Goldberg, however, didn't want to mess much with the script. "I pushed the story forward to the late 1700s," he says, "But you can't move the time forward much more than that, because the story depends upon people really caring about the honor of Hero (one of the love interests, falsely accused of being a loose woman)."

"Much Ado about Nothing" opens tonight, and runs through Aug. 17, at First Folio Shakespeare Festival, located on the grounds of Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st. St., Oak Brook. For tickets call (630) 986-8067 or visit the First Folio Web site at firstfolio.org.