Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2002)
TI ie CI ac I camas P rìnt A 9 WEÓNEsdAy, M ay 29, 2002 Much Ado about something ELISABETH MEYER Staff Writer The Clackamas Theater Department has put an inter esting spin on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” its spring production. One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, “Much Ado About Nothing” has a typically convoluted plot that weaves a stubborn man and equally headstrong woman together through the machi nations of their friends. The five acts incorporate two sets of lovers and their stormy relationships, med dling friends and family, an evilly childish villain, and two of the funniest bumblers in Western literature. Of Elisabeth Meyer/The Clackams Print Knowing that Beatrice is eavesdropping, Ursula (Christine Quinlan) and Hero (Desirae Carver) make up stories about Benedick’s secret infatuation with her. ■: course, the events unfold in a riot of puns, metaphors and off-color jokes. The story centers around two couples: Hero (Desirae Carver) and Claudio (Mathew Lingmann), who are eager to be married, and their friends Beatrice (Dawnie Drebin) and Benedick (Jayson Shanafelt), who are attracted to each other but are both bound by long habit to disdain the opposite sex. While Hero and Claudio and the rest of their friends spin a web to draw Beatrice and Benedick together, evil forces work to slander Hero and destroy Claudio’s trust in her. The most appreciable dif ference in this production from the script is the number of women in male roles. The watGhpien have become women, the messenger and Balthasar are female, and minor henchman Conrade is now a henchwoman. Even the story’s public enemy number one, the vil lain Don John, has been replaced by a female version named Donna Maria (Amanda Jensen). The incompetent constable Dogberry (Tom Cavanaugh) and his simple assistant Verges (Annie Rimmer) steal the show. Cavanaugh’s treat ment of his underling takes on a whole new level with a female Verges that really works well. The women of the watch (Kristie McKenzie, Maiorie Rhode and Emily Miller) are also very, very funny—asked by men, the watch’s ques tions to Dogberry seem triv ial and overly detailed, but the actresses make them sug gestive and thus hilarious. “If we know him to a be a thief,” one says, “shall we not lay hands on him?” Jensen plays a deliciously ungracious Donna Maria, with consorts Borachio (Jon Sodoni) and Conrade (Sarah Pearson) alternately goading her on and hanging back, as they realized that love arid honesty must triumph. “Much Ado About Nothing” is too fast-paced and witty to Elisabeth Meyer/The Clackamas Print get syrupy and too funny to be ignored. The play contin Donna Maria (Amanda ues and closes this weekend. Jensen) schemes about To reach Elisabeth Meyer ways to spoil Hero and e-mail Claudio’s plans. “Only to saladlass@hotmail.com or despite them I will endeavor anything,” she vows. drop by B-104 ■ SUMMER WORK • • • • • • • • • Customer Service/ Sales 50+ years in business NO experience necessary, Training is provided $ 13-$ 14.50 base-appt. (Depending on location) Flexible Hours, FT st PT Openings Available Some Internships 8C Scholarship Available Conditions apply Nd Door to Door or Telephone Sales Fun Work Environment. All Majors May Apply APPLY NOW FOR WORK STARTING AFTER FINALS Beaverton (503) 892-5737 Portland (503) 771-9931 www.workforstudents.com
