Syracuse Shakespeare Festival

The Syracuse Shakespeare Festival opened its eighth season on Thursday with a pleasant, venturesome production of Shakespeare's romantic comedy "Much Ado About Nothing."

Despite a few early raindrops on Thornden Park Amphitheater, the weather stayed benign, and the crowd estimated at about 250 -- all ages, and a fair number of family groups -- gave the show appreciative laughter and applause.

"Much Ado" is centered around a lot of convoluted schemes that the characters invent to amuse themselves and embarrass others. The nobles are in a festive mood because a war has just been concluded with only a few casualties, and the party is going to last for a while.

At the center of the play are Beatrice and Benedick, two witty people who insult each other at every opportunity. At least, that's what other people expect of them, although in this production directed by Pete Zalizniak, one gets the feeling that the two have begun to find the game tiresome.

Kate Fahey is a strong Beatrice, a confident, energetic woman who somehow towers over others. Fahey lets us see the tough side of Beatrice, and then at times gives us glimpses of a woman in love.

Mark Weatherup's Benedick is more complex. Instead of the usual overbearing macho type, Weatherup creates an arrogant, snooty guy. A strong actor who can command the huge stage at Thornden, he takes the audience for a giddy ride in "The world must be peopled!" speech, in which Benedick persuades himself to do what he already does -- love Beatrice.

Together, Weatherup and Fahey build the rhythms of combat and comedy, wit answering wit.

And then suddenly, they are able to declare their love plainly. The crowd at the opening performance fell into a hush when Benedick said, "I do love nothing in the world so much as you." And Kate responded with equally simple words.

At their first kiss, the crowd applauded.

Although most of the principals are accomplished actors, SSF is a community theater dedicated to bringing along new talent, so acting skills vary among the large cast.

Zalizniak does some highly effective staging, especially of the funny scene where Benedick overhears his friends saying that Beatrice is dying of love for him.

Zalizniak creates the illusion that Benedick -- from more than halfway across the vast Thornden stage -- can hear their private conversation. And then Benedick begins to creep nearer to them, somehow concealing himself at a point where their toes are nearly touching him. The kids in the audience especially seemed to enjoy the silliness of that.

"Much Ado" has a fair amount of music in it, and Zalizniak uses half a dozen 1980's pop hits with Ali Wane, as Balthazar, leading the revels. No problem with the anachronism, but the cast sings and/or dances the songs at considerable length. The audience applauded the songs, but meanwhile the play lost its momentum.

Basil Allen is a many-sided Don Pedro, a bit of a playboy, but when he light-heartedly proposes to Beatrice and she turns him down, tactfully but definitively, he is crushed.

The role of Leonato, governor of Messina, has few fireworks, but Bob Reid's precision and ease in performance make Leonato very much a central character.

As Hero, Erin Reid gracefully conveys all the earnestness and vulnerability of a very young woman who worships her husband-to-be, the young warrior Claudio.

Michael Carroll is Claudio, and Claudio's enraged, hurtful public rejection of Hero (for presumed infidelity) gives you the feeling that Claudio's anger is really about the damage to his image.

Gary Van Dusen, in a black cassock as Friar Francis, brings an air of detached thoughtfulness that helps the others find a way out of their problems.

Matt Miniatt plays Don John, the heartless villain, as a well-dressed smoothie who never turns a hair whether things are going for or against him.

James Link's set strongly defines the actions with a semi-circle of jousting banners and barriers. Barbara Toman's colorful costume designs fit the generally bright mood of the production.

The details:

What: Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," presented by the Syracuse Shakespeare Festival.
When: Seen on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 (opening).
Where: Thornden Park Amphitheater, Thornden Park, Ostrom Ave., Syracuse.
Length: Two hours, 20 minutes, including intermission.
Attendance: About 250.
Performs through: Aug. 22.
Family guide: Bring blankets or chairs. Lots of kids enjoyed the antics, possibly without quite understanding the action. Refreshment stand and bathrooms are nearby.
Information: 476-1835.