The Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will be hosting its second weekend of performances of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” on April 30 and May 1 at 7:30 p.m., May 2 and May 3 at 8 p.m. and May 3 and May 4 at 2 p.m. in the Nafe Katter Theater at the University of Connecticut.
The CRT provides a description of the play on their website.
“Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedick have arrived in Messina after a decisive victory on the battlefield. Claudio falls for their host’s daughter, Hero, while Benedict falls into a battle of wits with Hero’s cousin, Beatrice. Beatrice and Benedict want nothing of love, but their friends have another idea,” the CRT website says.
Vincent Tycer, the associate artistic director at UConn and the director of the show, talked about the process of working on the show.
Tycer talked about the difficulties of bringing Shakespearean shows in front of a modern audience.
“One of the most important things about performing and rehearsing Shakespeare is making sure that the story and the details in it are clear and because it is archaic language to a modern ear.” Tycer said. “One of the most important things as a director with Shakespeare is to make sure that the performer understands what they’re saying… because we have a remarkable ability to understand language. If the speaker understands why they are saying it, [the audience understands] the context.”
Tycer talked about how Shakespeare’s stories and themes are still relevant in the modern world.
“One of the beautiful things about Shakespeare [was] the ability to write plays that were very human… the troubles of England 400 years ago were very similar to the troubles that we have today in terms of communication… and people not understanding how to get to common understandings, but also, love and loving of another person romantically,” Tycer said. “These are all themes that are very human themes, and so when you dig deep into Shakespeare you end up seeing a lot of the life that is around you.”
“Much Ado About Nothing” has been in rehearsal for seven weeks according to Tycer, and opened at the Nafe Katter Theatre on April 25, having had a preview the day before.
Tycer talked about how proud he was of the performers after the preview.
“I talked to… everybody after the preview, just before opening… I told them that I felt like the show had opened, because it was ready and they had had an audience, and I cannot remember another production where I had breathed out so easily at the end of preview.” Tycer said. “I was just so happy for the growth that I had seen in each one of the performers. I was so happy with the work that the designers, the backstage crew, the stage managers and the assistant director had done on the piece, that I felt like it was theirs now.”
Tycer has been working as a director for over 30 years, having directed a production of “Much Ado About Nothing” previously. Tycer dedicated this show to his mother who helped him when he first started directing.
“I was first introduced to acting in Shakespeare by my mum, who I dedicated my work in the show too. She’s in assisted living and it was really awesome to be able to dedicate the show to her because she introduced me to the art form and helped me on my first productions as a director,” Tycer said.
Two post-show talkbacks will be held on May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and May 3 at 8 p.m., with the May 1 show also being “UConn Student $5 Night,” according to the CRT website.
More information about the show can be found on the CRT’s website and by calling 860-486-2113.