Northampton Community Colleges Theatre Department mines the laughs with a broadly comedic production of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." On the colleges Lipkin Theatre stage, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township through April 16, the production playfully uses physical comedy to accentuate Shakespeares witty wordplay.
Director William Mutimer has set the comedy in the flirty Roaring Twenties to good effect.
Max Wetherhold as the musician Balthasar sets the scene, crooning popular hits from the 1920s like "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue," and "Bye, Bye Black,bird," while accompanying himself on the ukulele.
Brett Oliverias pastel-hued set with light-up trees and a fountain evokes a country club vibe while the women playing badminton and croquet as they chat further add to the feel of casual affluence of the era.
The story focuses on the love matches of two very different couples.
The more traditional is Claudio who falls for the sweet Hero and asks for her hand in marriage. However he is tricked into thinking she is unfaithful by the villainous Don John.
Michael J. Sheridans Claudio is appealingly upright and honorable, although somewhat righteous and quick to think badly of his beloved.
Lydia Walkers Hero is innocent, charming and a little bit flirty. Her glee when trying to trick her cousin Beatrice is enjoyable.
The other couple “ Benedick and Beatrice “ relentlessly spar verbally until they are tricked into thinking the other is madly in love with them.
Justin Fenner is smug and passionately self-assured as Benedick who asserts he wants nothing to do with marriage.
Tatiana Torres is a clever, strong-willed and brazen Beatrice. Torres adds some Spanish language to her role for extra flare.
For the roles of the foolish constable Dogberry and his dutiful watchmen, Mutimer takes it over the top.
The whole crew marches in step while playing the iconic Colonel Bogey March on kazoos. Dogberry and right hand man Verges sport kilts while the rest are smartly turned out in ranger outfits, complete with their own fold-up stools.
Buster Page is a slight if self-important Dogberry uttering his nonsense lines with conviction and
Andy Van Antwerp is humorously engaging as Verges.
Watchmen Colleen Popper, Brody Baron, Mina Price, Amber Smith and Jadean Nicholas give the appearance of slightly exasperated indulgence.
Daniel Sottiles makes his Don John particularly maniacal and slightly unhinged as he snorts snuff, rends his clothes, and does cartwheels.
Christopher Gibbs is noble and staunch as the patriarchal Leonato.
Also adding to the ensemble are Meaghan Lawer and Jacqueline Fedonvszak as Heros coy but Byamiable maids Ursula and Margaret; Eugene "Sage" Bule as a paternal Don Pedro and Justin Ferguson as a shifty but regretful Borachio. Isaiah Elleby brings attitude to the role of Conrade and Travis Nugent is a grounded Antonio.
D. Polly Kendricks flapper costumes are lots of fun and add plenty of flair to the show.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 15 and 2 p.m. April 16.
Tickets are $5. Those with a valid NCC ID can attend for free with the donation of a non-perishable food item for NCC's HOPE Food Pantry for students.
For information, call 484-484-3412 or go to www.ncctix.org.