Constable Dogberry presents his prisoners to the Prince in the Lee Theatre production of "Much Ado About Nothing." From left are cast members Adam Wehby, Laura Harrison, Luke Samford, Jonathan Loudermilk, Ethan Moore (obscured) and Jonathan Swindle.IF YOU GO¦ What: Lee University Theatre's "Much Ado About Nothing."¦ When: 8 p.m. April 4, 7:30 p.m. April 5 and April 10-12.¦ Where: Dixon Center, Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn.¦ Admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors/students.¦ Phone: 423-614-8343.¦ Email: theatre@leeuniversity.edu.¦ Website: www.leeuniversity.edu/theatre.
Lee University Theatre will take a postmodern approach to Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," playing the next two weekends in the Dixon Center on the Cleveland, Tenn., campus.
The dialogue will still be old English, but the setting will change to a modern warehouse, rather than a Sicilian estate. The actors will portray theater students who break into the warehouse and use available props to perform the play about two young couples, with amusingly contrasting relationships, and their journeys to sincere love.
Generally considered one of the Bard's best comedies, "Much Ado" combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious topics of honor, shame and court politics.
"In some ways the play is contemporary, but in some ways it is not," says director Dan Buck, assistant professor of theater. "We are not trying to modernize the play. I respect Shakespeare so much, I think his work is worth reimagining."
The performance will feature cameos from Lee faculty Dr. Kevin Brown and Dr. Hermilo Jasso.