First Folio presents a merry 'Much Ado'

Just as pride can't frustrate the budding romance of loquacious lovers Beatrice and Benedick and a bit of slander can't divide sweet Hero from her suitor Claudio, a summer sprinkle during the second act couldn't stop First Folio Shakespeare Festival's sunny "Much Ado About Nothing."

Rooted in deception and misunderstanding, rife with playful dialogue and populated with bright characters who bicker beautifully, "Much Ado" remains one of Shakespeare's best-loved and most performed plays. Case in point: Fewer than five Chicago-area companies staged productions this summer, including Chicago Shakespeare Theater's world premiere of The Q Brothers' exuberantly irreverent "Funk It Up About Nothin'."

A few raindrops couldn't dislodge the opening-night audience from the lawn of the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, where director Michael Goldberg's charming and reverent production unfolded. The perfectly pitched performances by well-matched leads Nick Sandys and Melissa Carlson, along with fine work by the supporting cast, certainly kept the audience rooted to their lawn chairs and blankets.

Sandys' witty and willful Benedick (the merriest of Shakespeare's "merry gentlemen") and Carlson's spirited, self-aware Beatrice make for worthy opponents in this battle of the sexes and war of wits, whose principle combatants are "too wise to woo peaceably." Their celebrated badinage does nothing so well as to reveal the admiration these agile intellects have for each other.

Independent and obstinate even to the curtain call, Sandys and Carlson reflect a couple whose relationship - for all its feigned rancor - is rooted in mutual respect and the recognition that they are each other's equal. By turns endearingly defiant, awkwardly suave and unfailingly devoted, Sandys makes Benedick's transformations seamless and credible. Carlson strikes a balance between feisty and feminine, and both actors deliver with aplomb Goldberg's discreet bits of physical comedy. Speaking of comedy, Goldberg takes a low-key approach to the lighter moments that serve the play well. Also effective for its understatement is John Reeger's nicely restrained and humorous turn as Dogberry, the comic-relief constable prone to malapropisms "too cunning to be understood."

Dominic Green plays Don Pedro - the sovereign-soldier who shifts from waging war to matchmaking for his friends - with gracious good humor that also suggests the unmistakable air of ultimate authority. While pliant, Alison Lani's Hero is not without a spine. North Central College student Will Allan plays Hero's beloved Claudio with an ideal combination of boyishness, impetuousness and self-righteousness. And Patrick Clear delivers another characteristically solid supporting performance as Leonato, Hero's father and the governor of Messina, Italy, where the story unfolds.

Also deserving mention is Keland Scher, who channels Roberto Benigni as Dogberry's deputy Verges; Adam Billman-Galuhn's shady and soused Borachio; Ben Whiting's perpetually scowling Don John, the play's "plain-dealing villain"; Rene Ruelas' temperate Friar Francis and Jim Farrell's obliging, if somewhat randy Antonio.

Goldberg updates the play to the Regency Era, which is reflected exclusively in Elsa Hiltner's dapper, early 19th-century costumes: dark tailcoats and buttery yellow trousers tied with gold sashes for the noblemen; simple, pale blue and off-white empire dresses for the women; and rough-hewn, earth-tone garb for the middle-class rustics. Recycling First Folio's set from last summer's "Richard III," designer Christopher Jensen accents it with flowering vines, neatly trimmed topiaries and colorful paper lanterns to suggest Leonato's seaside estate.

Underscored with easy affection, First Folio's is an innately honest, unpretentious show: respectful of the play's characters and faithful to the text. Perhaps a little too faithful. A few more judicious trims wouldn't hurt. Nevertheless, First Folio's merry "Much Ado" is poised to weather its competition.

"Much Ado About Nothing"

Rating: 3½ stars

Location: Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook

Times: 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through Aug. 17

Running time: About 2 hours, 45 minutes, with intermission

Tickets: $21, $26

Parking: Free lot on the grounds

Box office: (630) 986-8067

For most audiences

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=183">First Folio's 'Much Ado' </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>