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lain Don John, has been
replaced by a female version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