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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 2016)
Polk County Education 14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 9, 2016 Dallas to perform Shakespeare classic Theater program celebrates 400th anniversary of playwright’s death By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — This marks the 400th anniversary of Shake- speare’s death, and theater companies the world over are celebrating with produc- tions of the bard’s works. “I wanted to participate in that,” said Blair Cromwell, Dallas High School’s drama teacher. Her choice of “Much Ado About Nothing” is timely. One of the themes in the comedy is the double stan- dard in the behavior of men versus women, especially re- garding a woman’s “virtue” or perceived lack thereof, Cromwell noted. “The play addresses all of those things,” she said. “It was time to check in with those age-old questions.” In the title, the word “nothing” is a play on words, meaning “rumor” in Shake- speare’s time. Rumor and innuendo have a significant role in the play, as do miscommunica- tion and misunderstanding, both with comedic and dra- matic consequences. The play runs Thursday through Saturday at Dallas High School. The very first scene, an addition for this production, set in Paris just before the outbreak of World War II, il- lustrates the havoc created by a misunderstanding be- tween two lead characters, Beatrice and Benedick. Longtime friends, the pair are celebrating a brief en- gagement before Benedick is called to fight. “He proposes to her at the very beginning,” said Olivia Widmer, who plays Beatrice. Their bliss is interrupted when Beatrice is convinced the Benedick has kissed an- other woman. “Beatrice calls off the en- JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Revelers drink and dance during a scene in Dallas High School’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” running Thursday through Saturday. gagement because she thinks he has cheated on her,” Widmer said. The next scene has the soldiers returning from war, but for the pair, another is about to begin. “Beatrice is salty,” Widmer said. “We have this big argu- ment in front of everybody,” said Dylan Bauman, Benedick in the play. The two are evenly matched in a Shakespearean war of words. “It’s fun for everybody be- cause we are being witty; it’s witty banter,” Widmer said. Bauman said both char- acters disguise their true feelings. “I always keep this per- sona that I’m this cool, lik- able guy. In reality there’s a lot of pain that I’ve had,” he said. “He wants to be liked and it drives him crazy that Showtime! What: Dallas High School’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Where: Bollman Auditorium, 1250 SE Holman Ave. When: Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Admission: $5 for online tickets; $6 at the door. For on- line tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticket- ing=dhst. Beatrice doesn’t like him.” That’s what Beatr ice would like him to think. “I don’t like him, but I do love him,” Widmer said. That storyline coincides with another relationship complicated by rumors of infidelity, that of Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, and young sol- dier, Claudio. Three of the cast mem- b e r s a t t e n d e d O re g o n Shakespeare Festival’s sum- mer seminar for high school juniors, which has helped the actors interpret the lan- guage in the play, Cromwell said. Stage manager Elizabeth Davis, in her first stint run- ning a show, said the cast and crew have adapted well to their production of the Shakespeare classic. “It’s really interesting to work with everyone. It’s a lot of responsibility,” she said. “It’s going amazing. I’m happy with how it’s turning out. It’s really been great to work on it.” JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer A nightclub scene opens Dallas High School’s version of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Tickets are on sale online.
