Cambridge University Players Perform “Much Ado About Nothing” at FSU

The Cambridge American Stage Tour (CAST) came to Frostburg State University (FSU) on September 23, 2014 to perform William Shakespeare’s play “Much Ado About Nothing.”

“Much Ado About Nothing” begins with the characters discussing the return of two soldiers, Don Pedro and Benedick, from a successful war. Upon their return, Claudio, one of Don Pedro’s soldiers, announces his intentions to woo Governor Leonato’s daughter Hero, despite Benedick’s warning against marriage. Claudio and Hero devise a plan to trick Benedick and Beatrice, Hero’s cousin, into admitting their love for each other. Don John then hatches a scheme to ruin Claudio and Hero’s marriage plans. Hilarity ensues as Claudio pursues Hero and Benedick is forced to reconcile his disdain for marriage. After deception, deceit, and near-death, two couples are brought together and one man is arrested.

This adaptation of the timeless play brings the characters to a modern time. In the scene in which the characters attend a masquerade ball, they danced to modern pop music, and they (drunkenly) held red solo cups. Characters dressed in modern fashion, including soccer jerseys and suits. It’s often said that Shakespeare’s plays transcend time, and, with a great performance by the cast, “Much Ado About Nothing” was put in a modern, relatable setting.

Although “Much Ado About Nothing” usually takes over three hours to perform, the Cambridge University players performed a shortened version that lasted just about two hours. Several scenes and characters were cut out to shorten the play. They were not missed, however, and the show didn’t skip a beat.

Shakespeare’s genius was on full display as comedy and tragedy were perfectly balanced. As the tension rose just after intermission, the patron might imagine an unhappy ending. Just after a nerve-racking scene, the tension was broken by a bumbling police officer strolling on stage and (barely) apprehending Don John’s cronies while they were getting into mischief. The actors and actresses gave a compelling performance as tragic circumstances unfolded, but the buffoonery of the police officer and the clever dialogue kept the comedy from going off the tracks.

Overall, the Cambridge players delivered a delightful performance for all to enjoy.

CAST, a group of undergrads from Cambridge University in England, has been touring internationally since 2000, according to the troupe’s website. Every September, the group tours the east coast of the U.S. to bring Shakespeare’s work to as many high schools, universities, and theatres as possible. The members of CAST are usually among the best actors, actresses, and directors at Cambridge University.

FSU was the seventh stop of the nine-show tour. The final show will be at Brown University in Rhode Island. The tour has stopped at FSU every year since its inception in 2000, according to a FSU press release.