Combining moments of hilarity with serious meditations on love and truth, Shakespeare ’70 is set to perform Much Ado About Nothing at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre.
Set on the Italian island of Sicily, Shakespeare ’70 has fast forwarded the production to 1870, as Italy is becoming a unified country for the first time.
According to the show’s assistant director Janet Quartarone, the time period is the perfect backdrop for a story of men returning home from battle, a sweet, young couple thoroughly in love, and the reunion of another couple, Beatrice and Benedick, who would rather exchange scorching insults than sweet nothings. They’d have their freiends believe they’ll never marry — but their friends think differently and plot to bring the two together.
A villain with mischief on his mind, some lovely music set to Shakespeare’s words, and the physical comedy of the local constables add to this rich story.
The cast stars Dale Simon as Leonato (Flemington); Curt Foxworth as Don John (Hightstown); Sarah Stryker as Beatrice, Andrew Timmes as Balthasar (Lawrence Township); Paige Matt as Hero (Middlesex); Aaron Wexler as Don Pedro (Philadelphia, Pa.); Jamie Bradley as Antonio (Quakertown, Pa.); Garrett Verdone as Claudio (Westfield); and Ray Fallon as Benedick (Westmont).
Also featured are John Eldis (Absecon); Ernie Albanesius (Chesterfield); Fred Bartlett, Morgan Petronis (Ewing); Michael Krahel (Hillsborough); Jim Bloss, Tristan Curbishley, Vianna Fagel (Lawrence Township); Anthony Coppola (Morganville); Dan Keyser (Morristown); and Dan Altobelli (Mount Holly).
Performances are scheduled for June 13,14, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m.; June 15 and 22 at 2 p.m at Kelsey Theatre, located on the college’s West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew is set to follow the opening night performance on June 13.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $14 for students and children.
More information is online at kelseytheatre.net.
Lawrence resident Sarah Stryker stars as Beatrice in Shakespeare ’70’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”,
