Kudos to the director for Much Ado About Nothing. The direction was one of the best I have seen. Pacing and all the small details really made this production one of the best I have seen. Cast was wonderful and even and small characters were remarkable. Both leads were well balanced. I would go again.

What A Hoot! Much Ado was a perfect example of why we call such works “plays”, and the performers “players”. Can’t remember when I have laughed so much. The Saturday 9/13 performance was full of the energy of interaction between the stage and the audience. Music and dancing added immensely to the fun. The conga line exeunt was a hoot. And I liked the way you got the moon to rise over center stage as the play progressed. Ingenious! All best to MSC.

The play and the cast of Much Ado were absolutely amazing, especially Cat Thompson and Darren Bridgett. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time! The leads truly gave all their energy into their performances. We saw A Winters Tale. I don’t like the play as much, so it isn’t really a fair comparison, but the quality and energy of the performances in Much Ado far outshowed Winters Tale. thank you for a great time!

I thought you might like to hear a story. Julia, my seven year old daughter, who participated in your Shakespeare camp this summer as Don John, just got back from seeing Much Ado with her father. When they came into our house, Julia ran screaming down the hall, “I’m going to write a Shakespeare play!” After she made a cast list and asked us to commit to who we wanted to try out for, she told me that she LOVED the show. Apparently, it was AWESOME. I haven’t seen her this excited in awhile. Tell the cast, “Great job!” Making a Shakespeare fan out of a seven-year-old is some feat. We’re impressed!

Just had to thank you for the enjoyable and fun evening we had tonight watching “Much Ado”. We had a jolly good laugh, my 8 year old included!
I couldn’t think of a part poorly played. Each lent something of themselves to their role and I understood the characters better because of that. I suppose my favorites were the wit and physical comedy of Benedict, Beatrice, and Dogberry. Brilliant.

I just wanted again to tell you how much fun I had on Saturday night. We sometimes get locked into the “glass wall” of TV and movies, where things are all recorded on some media, and the action and dialogue are all set to play over and over. It was so refreshing to see real people performing with no wall. It was so much fun to turn my eyes from the main characters, and to watch what was going on in the background. Each character was doing something the entire time. So much life, so much action. I think I will get season tickets for next year.

Last night (Saturday) was a GREAT performance by a GREAT cast.  You chose cast members well for their parts and it seemed like they all had their hearts in the performance (and the work).  I am NOT a Shakespeare devotee and have only been to one good performance, but the performance last night held my attention for the “duration” of the two plus hours.  I’ll keep your schedule in mind for next year.

Much Ado : I saw the preview, close to perfection but Beatrice’s drunk scene should be eliminated (not in character, no textual support); I suggest center stage front, very quiet, gives her soliloquy so as to express how deeply she is moved and how distraught. Best wishes to all the cast, especially Borrachio and Don John, also Darren Bridgett is the only actor I’ve seen who can do what Jean-Louis Barrault was able to do. Staging (except as noted), costumes, tone, all a delight, and my family enjoyed it also.

Great performance of Much Ado…but a little less skin, please! There are little ones in the audience!

NOTE: From the Producer - The moment in question will be changed for Family Day and Student Matinees.

First time participant. I don’t think Ive ever seen a live Shakespeare play.

Things I enjoyed.

The overall lightness of the cast while at the same time its serious business. A delicate balance that was struck well.

The music within the show was a surprise and was well integrated, any more would have needed a pit, any less would have been a novelty, and trite.

The daring nature of Benedick, (Darren Bridgett) how entertaining. The liberties with the audience, the acrobatics on the arbor, the true understanding of the character. Great body language. The golf sequence! Great.

The sublime nature of William Elsman’s voice, (Don Pedro), I would never get tired of it. His pacing, timing, projection, even when his back was turned to me I could hear everything, amazing. I could tell he is a great catalyst to those around him. If the whole cast mirrored his pace it would be hypnotic. I cant wait to see/hear more in the future.

Cat Thompson, in her character of Beatrice, could enrage, or inspire a man with just a look. What a great character, and she delivers with authority without being pompous. She just is… Beatrice. Killer stuff.

The villain assistant to Don John was very convincing. The thing that impressed me was how well I understood what he was saying. Perhaps it was the nature of his role, but I thought he did very well.

Dogberry was so fun.

Hero projected innocence so well, a person who should be in love. Good casting there.

The priest was a surprise, very commanding, bordering on upstaging almost, but that’s a good thing.

Ok: Things that would have made the experience more enjoyable.

I wished the nature of Benedick in the beginning with regard to women was more exaggerated. I wanted the delivery of his words to be much slower and more direct. When he has disdain for women I want to feel it, dripping from his mouth, so when he switches over, its a real contrast. Also during his first monolog he needs to keep his volume consistent on his voice, Its not emphasis in this element by dropping volume, it just goes away. Its not film. There are no mics. He needs to place his voice more in his head and less in his throat, it got much better as time went on. But overall his pacing was too fast for me. He still was brilliant though.

I want to feel more love from Claudio, and when he finally has Hero for his own he needs to project more innocence, more fulfillment, his delivery was a bit lusty toward Hero. If anything Benedick should be more lusty and Claudio more innocent, given the object of their affections. In my very uneducated opinion with regard to Shakespeare.

Leonato was very consistent and pro, but he also needs to slow down the speech and reflect a man of stature and grace with experience. Less meek.

Don John, In the beginning, when he is introduced, I would have liked to see more delay and force from Don Pedro to Don John. Like he doesnt want to be nice and the taking off the handcuffs is NOT forgiveness. Its just an uncomfortable situation socially that Don Pedro needs to comply with. Like for instance, when he goes to take the handcuffs off, he should pull Don John off balance, or when he has the cuffs, throw them and look more disgusted. Something to show REALLY that they are not well with each other. Maybe Don Pedro goes to almost slap him but suprises him with the keys to the cuffs. We need to feel more why Don John is such a jerk. Motivation.

The opening music, Georgia is strange. I think it should be instrumental for sure. Maybe Georgia, but the violin should play the melody instead of singing.

I had a great time, thank you for caring so much to bring a great artistic ideal to our area. I will be back for more!