Much Ado About Nothing at Starlight Community Theater

This production of Much Ado About Nothing is set in Chicago just before the repeal of Prohibition. Don Pedro, a notorious rum-runner, has just extracted his son, Don Jon, from an incident in New York City with the aid of his two top enforcers, Claudio and Benedick. They gather at Club Messina owned by Leonata, Don Pedro's good friend. Joining them are Antonia, Leonata's older sister and news publisher, along with Antonia's daughter Beatrice, her ace reporter. During the celebration, Claudio falls in love with Hero, the singer at Club Messina, who happens to be Leonata's daughter. The feeling is mutual. Don Pedro, Antonia, Leonata and Hero decide to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love with each other when they realize the mutual antagonism between the two masks deeper feelings. Meanwhile, Don Jon throws a monkey wrench into the works, convincing Claudio that Hero is untrue. Add to the mix, two inept Private Eyes from New York, Dogberry and Verges, hot on Don Jon's trail and a new take on William Shakespeare's classic comedy hits the presses.