As far as parodies go, this past Sunday's presentation of Too Much Ado About Nothing was exactly what one should be, and possibly even more.
The show, put on by the Royale Fakespeare Players, made a parody of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
Even with a few cast changes due to the lead actor being ill, the show went well. In fact, the obvious script reading done by the substitutes just added to the comedy, according to the audience.
Sophomore Tom Clancy said that "it went well, but we were down an actor, in fact our lead actor. It's quite difficut to do a show for the public without the person who's been there the whole time, and his absence was definitely felt."
Each act of the play was portrayed with a separate genre, including a "day time talk show," a musical, and a "Big Ass Finale."
Too Much Ado About Nothing used the same plot as the original Shakespeare play, but added more comedic value. Sophomore Sarah Middleton said, "It's just a pleasure to be a part of something where Shakespeare can be remolded into a whole new thing."
All of the characters and plot were exaggerated, past the point of hilarity. It was hard to keep in mind that this used to be a Shakespeare play.
As freshman John Hefner said, and all Players agreed, the best part of the show was "the fact that so many people in Fakespeare have got such wonderful senses of humor."
Hefner admitted that he often found himself "bursting out in laughter during the rehearsals to the antics of some of these people."
Freshman Michelle Disney added that, aside from the shows, "spending time with the people in it and just hanging out and goofing off" keeps the fun in the group.
Junior Luke Witt admitted that it was hard work, but added, "It pays off in the end when we put on a show and get all the positive feedback from our diverse audience." Witt also said that when it comes to show time, the Players must "stick to our mantra of 'quick and dirty theatre,'" especially with last-minute and unexpected changes.
Said freshman Michael Ridgaway, "The audience laughed, and that's all that really matters."
The fun the Players had working with each other was evident to the audience. It created an energy around the set, or in between two buildings, as was the case on Sunday.
Most of the Players were "lured into" the Fakespeare group by another Player, the idea of parodying Shakespeare, or a general love for acting.
Auditions are held at the beginning of the semester, mainly to replace lost graduates, "but sometimes they are encountered with such talent that they have to expand the group."
Seniors Katie Kolacki and A.J. Rendo are Players and Managers of the Fakespeare group. The Players are "always exploring new and ever more quickly put together forms of performances."
Kolacki joined Fakespeare to "have the chance to attack Shakespeare's work at some angles that haven't been looked at before."
The parodies can range from a one-act parody to a parody of an entire play. The Players either use published parodies or write a completely original work, as in Too Much Ado About Nothing.
Middleton called the group "a very close knit troupe, and "always trying to pull wacky things together for a show," such as her hilarious outfit and part.
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