Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has produced a delightful and entertaining comedy with its "Much Ado About Nothing" through Aug. 7 in the Schubert Theater on the campus of Desales University in Center Valley. Director Matt Pfeiffer, aided by a talented cast, has skillfully mined every nugget of humor from one of William Shakespeares most rollicking comedies.
While Gabe Moses is earnest and eager, and Taylor Congdon is noble and virtuous as primary couple in love - Claudio and Hero, the real fun comes with the second love match.
At first, Claudios friend Benedick and Heros cousin Beatrice seem an unlikely couple as they spar with each verbally, competing in a stinging war of wit.
Akeem Davis Benedick is a treat, not only delivering the characters verbal barbs, but proves himself a master of physical comedy. The most memorable scene is when Claudio, Don Pedro and Leonato trick Benedick by purposely letting him overhear the fiction that Beatrice is in love with him. Davis is hilarious as he fumbles and stumbles around the stage in both disbelief and delight, even humorously bringing in the audience for the fun.
A similar scene with Beatrice is equally successful and funny. Brett Ashley Robinson even humorously rolls herself in a carpet as she struggles to overhear Hero and her two waiting ladies as they discuss Benedick and his supposed loved for Beatrice. Robinson also has a very expressive face, adding to the humor.
As Heros caring and righteous father Leonato, Eric Hissom is appealing and effective; and Lindsay Smiling is charming and regal as the kind prince Don Pedro.
Sean Close is cartoonishly wicked as the princes bastard brother Don John, who tries to ruin Claudio and Heros wedding by framing the innocent Hero. He is joined in unabashed villany by Johnny Drumgoole and Maboud Ebrahimzadeh as his willing henchmen.
More broad comedy is offered with the unforgettable high-stepping introduction of the constable Dogberry and his men who are to watch the villa overnight. Anthony Lawtons Dogberry is pompously self-important and tediously clueless to outrageous effect. Even his Coke bottle glasses become a prop for silliness. Nothing is off limits and the musical playing in the other theater, gets a funny shout-out.
As Dogberrys cohorts, Sydney Abbott, Kayman Brown and Zoe Fox add to the craziness.
Michael Covel as the musician Balthazar opens and closes the shoe with delightful musical interludes and adds to the story as he plays a love song to entice Benedick and is tellingly dismissed by Don John.
Alex Bechtel has written the tuneful original music.
Scenic designer Paige Hathaway has created a simple but charming Italian square with ivy and hanging lights and LeVonne Lindsays costumes are attractive and functional.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. July 16, 20-22, 27-30 and Aug. 3-5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 17, 23, 31 and Aug. 6; 6:30 p.m. July 19, 26 and Aug. 2, and 2 p.m. July 24 and Aug. 7.
Meet the actors for an informal talk-back after the July 21, July 28, and Aug. 4 shows.
The 2 p.m. Aug, 6 performance will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing and audio descriptions for patrons who are blind or visually impaired. Tickets are half price for patrons using these special services. Call box office manager Kyle Schumaker at 610-282-3654, ext. 1, for information.
Masks are required while inside the Labuda Center.
Tickets are $47 to $70 for adults; $45 to $68 for seniors and $42 to $65 for youth.
For information, call 610-282-3192, or go to tickets.desales.edu.