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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2004)
BY SHARLEEN NELSON Review Much Matchmaking Southern and Northern Indian Cuisine Daily Lunch Buffet $6.99 11:30am - 2:30pm Dinner 5pm - 9:30pm UT offers lively Much Ado . F cocky, confirmed bachelor, Benedick. Griner proves her versatility by revealing both Beatrice’s soft, vulnerable side, as well as her proclivity for launching saucy riposte. Conversely, Chris Hirsh was born to play Shakespeare. Like a dashing Errol Flynn, Hirsch puts in a standout performance, easily winning over the audience with his quirky mannerisms and comedic athleticism. Also putting in fine performances were Steve Weihmeier as Leonato, Andrew Beck as Don Pedro, Alexander Dupre as the vil- lainous Don John, and Brandon Finch, who is an awesome singer. Using a simple, no frills set, the produc- tion crew makes great use of light and shad- ow to express night and day and different locales. Although the production doesn’t strive for authenticity — incorporating Spanish dances such as the Flamenco and Tango into choreographed energetic dance scenes, and the use of brightly colored, non- Shakespearean period costumes — it all seems to work. Much Ado runs through May 23. ew or the majority of us, everyday life is an amalgamation of drama, misper- ceptions, simple pleasures and the mundane. Recognizing this, Shakespeare (and later, writers of shows such as “Seinfeld”) tapped into these seemingly unimportant events as a way to appeal to and entertain an audience. And entertain is pre- cisely what the University Theatre does in its production of Much Ado About Nothing. For those unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s comedy, here it is in brief: Three friends return to Messina following a victorious war. Claudio is promptly smitten with Hero, the governor’s captivating daughter. Benedick, a confirmed bachelor, and Hero’s sharp-tongued cousin, Beatrice, vol- ley verbal jabs at one another in a merry war of the sexes. Once Claudio and Hero get together, they participate in a jolly game of matchmaking to try to bring Beatrice and Benedick together. Meanwhile, Don John, Don Pedro’s spiteful brother, conspires to ruin Claudio and Hero’s happiness by enlisting his minions to taint Hero’s reputa- tion. Believing the lies, Claudio shuns Hero at the altar. More schemes are hatched, fools and villains unmasked, misunder- standings mended, and disclosure in the end revealing, yes, it’s all been much ado about nothing. Playing Claudio and Hero are Jay Hash and Juliet Strong. Hash is noble as both the lovesick suitor and the betrayed lover. Likewise, Strong is delightfully enchanting and coy. While both put in strong perform- ances interacting with each another, they really shine with other members of the cast, particularly in the highly comedic scenes. While the main plot evolves around obstacles to the union of Claudio and Hero, the play’s sub-plot between the battling Beatrice and Benedick is much more inter- esting and entertaining by comparison. Together, Sarah Griner and Chris Hirsh play the dynamic duo in their respective roles as the spunky and assertive Beatrice and the • Variety of vegetarian entrées • Private catering and Banquet Room available BUY ONE DINNER ENTRÉE GET 2ND ENTRÉE 50% OFF w/ purchase of 2 drinks One coupon per party • Valid for dine in only • Monday-Thursday • Expires 6/30/04 65 Division Ave., Suite M • Santa Clara Square • 541-607-1717 Cottage Grove Lions Club Presents: The Eugene Comic & Collectibles Show ! BAM POW! Comic Books! Trading Cards! Action Figurines! Games! and Art for sale" Sunday! June #th • $%am&'pm Lane County Fairgrounds $% am & ' pm • FREE Parking $) for * yrs" and older $$ off with donation of a pair of used eyeglasses Tables available for as little as $)' Special Guests: Mike Royer, inker Randy Emberlin, artist • Scott Allie, writer Jason Pearson, artist • Kurt Busiek, writer Comic Grading Group, CGC (local company accepting books for professional grading) 4HEô/REGONô(UMANITIESô#ENTERôPRESENTS AôSYMPOSIUMôON )..%2ô7!2 Sarah Griner as Beatrice and Chris Hirsh as Benedick in UT's Much Ado About Nothing. -«ÀÌÕ>Ê/À>ÃvÀ>ÌÃÊvÊ >ÀÌ>Ê>}iÀÞÊÊ-VÀ«ÌÕÀi V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT : www.eugeneweekly.com $$$$$ -AYôôANDô ô william shakespeare’s ado g{Ü|y t àç ç much about w á Ü â { g Present UO this Students!! Coupon w. Your Student ID UO Ticket Office Main Floor- EMU Two Tickets for the price of One Thursday, May 20 Only! +%9./4%ô30%!+%23 nothing a robinson theatre production Tickets: UO Ticket Office/EMU 346-4363 Robinson Theatre Box Office: 346-4191 Evenings of Performance Only! May 20, 21, 22, 28, 29- 8 PM May 23 at 2 PM for Womenspace -benefit tickets: 485-8232 - !24). ª3ª* !&&%% ! ,%8!.$%2 ª' /,)4:). 5 .)6%23)49 ª /& ª7 !3().'4/. - !215%44% ª5 .)6%23)49 4HEô7ARSôOFô4ORAHô)NNERô 3TRUGGLEôANDô(ISTORICALô 6ICTORYôINôTHEô2ABBINICô 4RADITION 4HEô6IOLENTô4AKEô)TôBYô&ORCEô -ARTIALô)MAGERYôINôTHEô %ASTERNô#HRISTIANô!SCETICALô 4RADITION - !9 ª - !9 ª ,ECTURESªWILLªBEªHELDªATªªPMªINª2OOMª ª,ILLISª(ALL ª ª%ªTHª!VENUE ª5NIVERSITYªOFª/REGON 4HESEôEVENTSôAREôFREEôANDôOPENôTOôTHEôPUBLIC ôANDôAREôCOSPONSOREDô BYôTHEô#OLLEGEôOFô!RTSôANDô3CIENCESô&ORôMOREôINFORMATION ôORôFORôDIS ABILITYôACCOMMODATIONS ôPLEASEôCALLô ô %/!!!$!ôINSTITUTIONôCOMMITTEDôTOôCULTURALôDIVERSITY MAY 20, 2004 21
