Much Ado About Nothing Review – A Civil War Romp in the Battle of the Sexes

Shakespeare is back at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the Bard’s frothiest romantic comedy. Under the superb direction of Ellen Geer (assisted by Sara Carpenter), the play is one of the funniest ever, making Shakespeare’s sometimes turgid and/or difficult to understand a play readily available to today’s theatergoer. Written in 1598 or 1599, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING explores many issues of interest then and now, including infidelity, treachery, mistaken identity, and love gone wrong.

Willow Geer and Aaron Hendry – Photo by Isabel Stallings

Shakespeare’s comedy has seen multiple London and Broadway productions and been nominated and/or earned Tony Awards between 1973 and 1985. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING has also been immortalized on the Silver Screen, most notably in 1993 directed by Kenneth Branaugh with a dazzling array of Hollywood stars, including Denzel Washington, Kate Beckinsale, Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is proud to present Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the ultimate screwball comedy.

Jonathan Blandino, Tim Halligan, Michelle Merring, Rebecca Oca-Nussbaum – Photo by Isabel Stallings

The time is at the end of the U.S. Civil War, and the place is a plush country estate. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING follows the up-and-down romances of two couples, Captain Claudio (Kelvin Morales) and Hero (Audrey Forman) and Benedick (Aaron Hendry) and Beatrice (Willow Geer). Major General Penn (Lynn Robert Berg) has just come to the country estate of old friend Leonato (Tim Halligan) with his victorious army for some much needed R&R. The timing is perfect for the lovelorn Claudio to push his suit for Leonato’s daughter and heir, the beautiful Hero. 

Robert Solomon, Gerald C. Rivers, Sky Wahl, Luke Bolle, and Cristian Venegas – Photo by Ian Flanders

Meanwhile Beatrice, Hero’s cousin, and Sergeant Benedick, Claudio’s buddy, want nothing of love – and they’re not afraid to let everyone know. Their witty and often caustic remarks to each other are meant to wound, but they might just be a cover-up for a mutual attraction which they dare not acknowledge. To quote director Ellen Geer, “Through a tapestry of misunderstanding, mistaken identities, and public revelations, the play juxtaposes two romantic plots: one mature love defined by a sharp, witty battle of words and wills, and the other by the tender vulnerability of young idealized love.” Highjinks ramp up as the “merry war” between the two unlikely lovers continues. But wait. Even though Claudio and Hero’s nuptials seem certain, there’s a villain in the piece named Don John (Emoria Weidner) who is committed to make sure that the wedding doesn’t happen. Lots of giggles and guffaws embellish the show as the improbable becomes probable and the unlikely happens. For trivia lovers, the title of the piece is also a clever double entendre drawn from Elizabethan days: “nothing” not only designates gossip – but is also a slang term for vagina.

Jonathan Blandino and Emoria Weidner – Photo by Ian Flanders

Ellen Geer helms the production with consummate skill, eking out every comic moment to its fullest. She is aided and abetted by the large, powerful, and gifted cast. Hayden Kirschbaum’s lighting, Lucas Fehringo’s sound, and A. Jeffrey Schoenberg’s costumes keep the motor running throughout.  And let’s not forget about the bucolic surroundings offered by Theatricum Botanicum.

Audrey Forman, Kelvin Morales (foreground), Shoshanna Green (facing upstage), Willow Geer, Natalia Jofre, Rebecca Oca-Nussbaum, Michelle Merring, and Tim Halligan – Photo by Isabel Stallings

Above all, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is clever, hilariously funny, and uber-entertaining – as well as a perfect piece to prove to nonbelievers in Shakespeare’s works that the Bard really was a very funny fellow with a huge funny bone. It only took a veteran Shakespearean director and an enthusiastic cast to prove it.

Shoshanna Green, Willow Geer, and Natalia Jofre – Photo by Ian Flanders

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING runs through September 13, 2025, with performances at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays (7/13, 8/10, 8/17) and Saturday 9/6, as well as performances at 7:30 p.m. on Monday (9/8), Thursday (7/31 and 8/21), Saturday (6/7, 6/14, 8/2, and 9/13), and Sunday (6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/20, and 8/31). Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon, Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290. Tickets range from $15 to $64 (children 4 and under free, 2 Pay-What-You-Will performances on Thursday 7/31 and Monday 9/8). Reservations for Pay-What-You-Will pricing is available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door. For information and reservations, call 310-455-3723 or go online.