Campus making much ado
by Ashley Clark, entertainment editor

    NE Players Company will present Much Ado About Nothing Feb. 20-24.

    The play is one of Shake-speare’s wittiest works about love and the courtliness between two couples taking very different paths to reach the same goal.

    “We have a great cast made up of a fun bunch of actors. They are all working hard. Even with a cast of 21, there are no problems,” Stacy Schronk, director, said.

    Don Pedro, Don John, Borachio, Benedick and Claudio are all returning from war and invited to stay at the house of Leonato. During their stay, Claudio falls in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero.

    This traditional love-at-first-sight, boy-meets-girl story line sometimes takes a backseat to the famed love/hate relationship between Benedick and Leonato’s niece, Beatrice.

    Erik Preston will make his debut at the NE Playhouse as the ever-confident and sworn bachelor, Benedick.

    Lisa Wash plays Beatrice, the epitome of a Shakespearean woman—equipped with a biting wit, high intellect and high animal spirits.

    Other players include Tonya Stapleton as Hero, Damien Harris as Claudio, Eric Wilder as Leonato, Rusty Thornsburg as Don John, John Hicks as Antonio, Jenell Underwood as Ursula, Sara Phillips as Margaret and Mike Kraft as Dogwood.

    Also appearing are Robert Hosner as Verges, James Fryar as Don Pedro, James Cates as Borachio, James Behlen as Conrade, Alfred Ramirez as Balthazar, James Warila as Friar, TM Jones as Sexton, Josh Sullivan as 1st Watch and Steve Levall as 2nd Watch.

    “I’ve done my typical thing when I direct Shakespeare. I try to make it interesting and entertaining—for the cast and the audience,” Schronk added.

    Along with the story and talent, the audience will enjoy the French, eclectic costuming and the simple, yet elegant set, designed by Jim McDowell, theatre instructional associate.

    Those who shy away from Shakespearean dialogue should be aware that Schronk has altered the script slightly so that all audiences will be able to understand and enjoy every aspect of the play.

    “I have only changed a few words. Nothing has been changed drastically to distract from the familiar story line,” Schronk said.

Laura Mahon, stagecraft and theatre appreciation instructor, serves as the lighting designer.

    Even though Much Ado About Nothing is filled with humor and intrigue, Schronk hopes the audience will receive the message that he believes Shakespeare was conveying in his work as well.

    And that is “making too much ado about something without checking it out first can do nothing but create hurt, pain and heartbreak,” he said.

    Show times are 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Ticket prices are $5 general admission, $3 for students and seniors, $2 for children and free for TCC students, faculty and staff.

    For reservations, call 817-515-6687.