New Faces of Shakespeare to Present MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING This Summer

Possum Point Players' affiliate, New Faces of Shakespeare present summer Shakespearean comedy under the direction of accomplished actor, director and teacher Shannon Parks. Formerly a resident of Washington, DC, Parks said this high-spirited production of "Much Ado About Nothing" is set in the roaring twenties.

She said, "This is a playful romp through the music, dance and raising hemlines of an era that keep the champagne and the intrigue of 'Much Ado About Nothing' flowing." The music and the flapper dresses may be vintage 20s, but the hints of romance veiled in teasing and taunting reparte and prospective lovers who are duped by the Shakespearean stand-by of court gossip are vintage Bard. Mix in a masked ball and a disguised bride and the plot can't get any thicker.

"Much Ado About Nothing" is performed June 29, 30 and July 1; all performances are at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 and may be purchased on line or at the door. The cast list and information on New Faces of Shakespeare are available at possumpointplayers.org

Parks' acting credits include roles with The Shakespeare Theatre Company, the Folger Theatre, The Westbank Downstairs, NYC, and the National Theatres of Slovenia and Croatia. She has taught acting and founded and worked with youth groups from a music theatre program for children to The Riotous Youth Shakespeare Company for teens. She was also on the acting faculty for Catholic University School of Drama.

Her experiences easily prepared her to bring "Much Ado's" bickering Beatrice and Benedick and their merry war of words to the Possums' stage. Contrast them with lovesick, but gullible, Claudio and the object of his affections, the delicate Hero. So delicate is she that when Claudio follows false information and shames her at the alter on their wedding day, the poor lass faints dead away.

Included in a cast of the characters are Don Pedro, a seemingly honorable prince, Don John, his not so honorable brother, and a village constable with the unlikely name of Dogsberry. There's a priest of questionable ethics who obviously believes all's fair in love and war when he devises a plot to pass off a recently revived Hero as yet another bride for Claudio. It is Shakespeare and the play's the thing.