The bard blustered onto the amphitheater stage last weekend with the Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts production of “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Twelfth Night.” The Thursday season opener found pre-show picnickers in the park buffered from the blustery breeze and enjoying ragtime and jazz music of the roaring twenties setting the flapper era mood for “Much Ado.”

Lissa Miller in the role of Beatrice set the tone with an elegant presence followed by the grand entrance of dashing Don Pedro played by Sean Tant. Chris Tabb as the willful Benedick rounded things out as a strong thread throughout the production.

The audience was quick to respond to Shakespeare’s wit and easy to forgive the occasional line stumbling or slow response.

Costuming was fancy with the shimmering lace, pleated suits and distinguishing hats of the roaring twenties. Daniel Zeller was especially dashing in his part of troublemaker Don John and his attempt to break up the impending marriage between Hero, played by the enchanting Emily Wenger and Claudio portrayed by the jovial Josh Newton.

The plot thickens and soon everyone is in on the trickery. Even the keystone cops dance among the guests at the masquerade ball while plotting their strategy to set things straight.

Early on in her performance, Beatrice declares it is “better to weep of joy than to joy of weeping,” and it is this proclamation that finally counters Benedick’s statement that “when I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I would live ’til I was married.” Their final scene was so hot I forgot how cold I was in the chilly mountain air.

Tabb and Miller shone and Tant’s playful performance as Mr. Matchmaker made this play much ado about something.

“Twelfth Night” opened to blue skies after a day of gentle rain and the troupe paraded onto the outdoor stage in glorious Elizabethan costumes.

Charlie French was delightful as the inebriated uncle Toby and along with his cohort in comedy, Sir Andrew, played by Don Weller, kept the fun in this social commentary. Shakespeare’s love of mistaken identity combined with cynicism and multiple marriages made for a complex plot with mixed up characters. Sir Andrew delightfully declared, “better a witty fool than a foolish wit,” and it would serve the viewer well to review the play’s synopsis in order to keep straight who was who and which schemes were what.

Viola, played by Jess Nicolls, is disguised as Cesario and straight away falls in love with Duke Orsino, played by Sean Tant, while Olivia, played by Bonnie Mowry, falls for the pretend Cesario and Antonio, played by Carrie Canda starts trouble thinking Cesario is the thought to be dead, Sebastian, played by Daniel Zeller.

Josh Newton as Feste the Clown delights everyone with his serenades and Nicolls rightfully stated afterwards that she didn’t think she played a very good male part because her beauty truly shone through.

It just goes to show that the play’s the thing, and it is a special treat to have Shakespeare in the Sangres. The witty dialogues keep everyone on their toes and the direction and costuming make both plays a “must see.”

 

 

Shakespeare performances continue

 

Shakespeare in the Sangres continues in the amphitheater behind the Jones Theater with the follies of Benedick and Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing” Thursday, June 25, Saturday, June 27, Friday, July 3 and Sunday, July 5.

“Twelfth Night” follows with the antics of Viola and Duke Orsino on Friday, June 26, and continues on Sunday, June, 28, Thursday, July 2 and Saturday, July 4. All performances are at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children 16 and under, and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at Candy’s Coffee, 116 Second St. or Arterburn Fine Arts, 409 Main St. The Shakespeare shows are included in season tickets.

The audience is invited to come as early as 5 p.m. with picnics, lawn chairs and blankets. In case of rain, the show will move inside the Jones Theater.