Review: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Gamut Theatre Group

It was a buggy night, the grass was wet from stormy days and guest appearances from an ambulance and some screaming kids seemed an unlikely setting for a classic comedy.

But as the sun went down and the lights went up, all the distraction faded away. Gamut Theatre Group's Much Ado About Nothing, was a community event that shouldn't be missed.

The Shakespeare play about love, war and scheming bad guys was given a facelift by Gamut, set in post-WWI Little Italy in New York City. This was a well-suited match for a play that's so often given ill-fitting revamps.

The cast was full of hardworking local stars who have been with Gamut for several productions. Their portrayal of the well-known story was hilarious and daring. Risks that may have fallen flat were upheld by excellent staging by director David Ramón Zayas and a breathtaking set and lighting design by Andrew Nyberg and Tristan Stasiulis.

Little Italy was brought to life with bustling cobblestone streets, charming apartment buildings and clotheslines. The on-stage props and set meshed perfectly with the real-life mountain view behind it. The park-turned-theater worked like a time machine, and brought each audience member into the story as if they were watching the hijinks unfold from just up the hill.

Gamut's Much Ado About Nothing was a well-produced experience that celebrates what's at the heart of theater: community coming together through art. So grab some lawn chairs, pack some snacks, and settle in for a good time.

Much Ado About Nothing runs until June 15 in Reservoir Park. Learn more here.

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