I thought they did well with the space they had, I've always enjoyed the Margett's theatre with it's black box feel, if the show is done right: minimal set and costuming, with more emphasis on character and the language of the play, and this production did that very well.
As an adaptation of Much Ado about Nothing, it was interesting to see it transposed to a post-WWII setting, especially since the only thing they seemed to have changed in order to make this adaptation was the costuming. I only have two complaints about this production, 1. movement and 2. Don Jon.
1. Movement -- For being in such a small space there was an awful lot of movement around the stage, the actors didn't seem to be able to stand still, or know what to do with their hands. Actors would pace back and forth, with not real motive or motivation for doing so. From my personal point of view, when an actor moves across the stage there needs to be some reason for doing it -- other than just 'the director told me I had to cross the stage.' That's just my opinion, but it helps give purpose to a production.
2. Don Jon -- Don Jon is a difficult character to portray well, and if someone complains about a production of Much Ado about Nothing, they usually mention the character if Don Jon at some point. The problem is that he's just a villain with no real reason why. Richard III, Macbeth, even Iago have reasons why they do what they do, they have justifications for their villainy, but with Don Jon we don't get any of that, it's never explained. He is such a flat character that it's hard to play him properly without coming off, well, flat.
One other major change from the script was the absence of the character Dogberry, the foolish constable who bumbles onto the villainy and exposes it. Cutting this character made it necessary to change the character of Conrade as well, from being a second accomplice of Don Jon, he became more of a young naive kid who was sort of hoodwinked into helping Don Jon, but then finds his conscience and tells what he knows.
Unfortunately with this change, they also lost some of the funniest scenes of the play, as shown below in Michael Keaton's wonderful performance.
All in all, it was a good show, a fun way to spend an hour and a half, but it also got me thinking: This is the original Romantic Comedy -- following the pattern completely!
1. Two people, a guy and a girl, that can't stand each other, but when forced together find themselves falling in love.
2. Guy loves girl and everybody's happy, until through some mistake or misunderstanding he says something to her she yells at him, and they are angry at each other.
3. The guy does some super romantic thing to win her back.
4. The misunderstanding is exposed, explained and all is well.
5. They get married.
Yup, that pretty much sums up every romantic comedy I've ever seen and that is all pulled directly from Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing.
For other reviews of the ETC show, check out Brooke's and Jennifer's, and Brandon's blogs.
