Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is performed by WAAPA Third Year Acting Students, with design and creative elements provided by WAAPA Production and Design students. A vibrant and colourful production, Much Ado About Nothing showcases the emerging talents from a range of WAAPA disciplines.

Director Clara Voda embraces the Sicilian setting by adding elements of commedia, giving this production an element of fun and edginess that feels both Italian and partly improvised. A lavish set designed by Sarah Halton (who also designed the very elegant costumes) embraces the Italianate theme and is beautifully lit from a design by Brooke Wilson. Musician and composer Jonathan Parker provides vibrant live accompaniment supported by a sound design from Bryce French-Pearton.

Highly physical, as might be expected from a performance with a commedia influence, effective movement direction was provided by Sam Chester, with beautiful intimacy direction from Gabrielle Metcalf.

The central roles of Benedick and Beatrice are shared. Opening night saw Dieudonne Ngabo as a forthright but fun Benedick (he shares the role with Joseph Baldwin) while Isabelle Basén was an elegant mature Beatrice who knew her own mind (she shares the role with Edyll Ismail). Lovely verbal sparring between these performers. The other romantic couple featured Jesse Vasiliadis as an earnest if misguided Claudio, while Lucinda Smith gave us strength and determination rarely seen in the ill-treated Hero.

Villainous Don John is given swagger and some depth by Tyler Redman, nicely supported by Alex Kirwan as a nasty Borachio and Tré Maclou as Conrad. Tess Bowers is lovely as Margaret, unwittingly drawn into their treachery.

Kelsey Skinner is very impressive gender flipping to play a gently authoritative and stately Prince Don Pedro, Leonato, governor of Messina, is also played with lovely authority, in a very mature performance from James McMahon. Leona’s brother Antonio is a lovely contrast, played with great fun in a scene stealing performance by Elyse Phelan - definitely a performer to watch.

Shakespeare’s comedic characters can be a delight if played well, as they are in this production. Ruby Henaway is great fun as Dogberry, with Lila McGuire excellent as Verges and other characters. Lila was ill on opening night and unable to finish the show, but you would never have known from her onstage performance.

Smaller roles were allowed to shine. Will Lonsdale brought depth and subtext to the role of Friar Francis that I have never seen before, while strong support was provided by Harry Gilchrist as Balthazar, Aida Bernhardt as the Messenger, Estelle Davis as Ursula, and Lauren McNaught as the Sexton (her ‘ensemble character also being a treasure). 

This production has a strong ensemble feel, with a great sense of group ownership and a united effort to embrace the audience. Good fun and a different approach to Much Ado About Nothing that will appeal to Shakespeare fans and provide a great introduction to Shakespeare for students.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Stephen Heath.