2004 SEASON    

William Shakespeare's
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Directed by David Ferry
York Shakespeare Festival
July 16 - August 7, 2004

Think Casablanca. Think late 1930's sass and jazz. Think the Spanish Civil War. Think Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn.

That's the world we visited in this summer's production of Much Ado About Nothing.

One of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, Much Ado About Nothing was first printed and acted in 1600. It is a comedy not of manners or sentiment, but of life viewed under its profoundest aspects, whether of the grave or the ludicrous.*

This play was also acted under the title of Benedick and Beatrice and of course it is this couple that has fascinated audiences and readers alike over the centuries. The two have become one of the most famous Shakespearean comic couples.

In our exciting 2004 production at Fairy Lake we were indeed fortunate to have the extraordinary Camilla Scott playing Beatrice opposite her real life Benedick, Paul Eves. When I was looking for actors to play these roles, Paul and Camilla immediately popped into my head. Camilla of course is known for her starring roles in the Mirvish productions of Mamma Mia, and Crazy for You as well as her own TV talk show The Camilla Scott Show. I directed Paul in the lead of the Canadian premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero last year, and he is one of the funniest persons I have ever worked with. Observing the real life love and humour that exists between Camilla and Paul made them a perfect fit.

Similarly the comic role of Dogberry in the play has been a favorite of Shakespearean clowns down through the ages. Our Dogberry is Newfoundland ex-patriot Stephen Guy-McGrath who will be part of the extraordinary cast joining Camilla and Paul.

The fading conflict against the fascists in 1939 Spain, and the coming Second World War set the dark backdrop for this production. Coming back from Spain to the Basque region of France, the soldiers want nothing more than to relax and forget the battles they have left behind. The frivolous games they play on each other in attempts to bring lovers together turn similarly dark as the villainous Dona Juanita (traditionally Don Juan but here played with a jealous "woman scorned" twist by the fantastic and striking Irene Poole) plots to sever the betrothed lovers Hero and Claudio (the vivacious Carly Street and electric Christopher Morris). It takes the comic three stooges-like Dogberry and his constables to uncover the plot and save the day.

Click on a named text link or photograph of an actor above to view their profile.

Click here to view the rest of the cast members of Much Ado About Nothing or view our photo gallery of this production.

It was, indeed, another season of unforgettable theatre!

David Ferry
Artistic Producer, Resurgence Theatre Company

Photographs of Camilla Scott and Paul Eves by Patrick Fordham (website).

By Any Other Name?
David Ferry's production of Much Ado... taken all around... was the second most enjoyable Shakespeare so far this year, bettered only by Stratford's Timon of Athens."
August 9, 2004 - by Robert Cushman, Arts & Life Section, National Post

Uproarious light elbows out the dark
In William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Don John describes himself as a "plain-dealing villain" and, his eloquence notwithstanding, remains a study of evil for evil's sake. Director David Ferry is not impressed with such tardy motivation.
July 23, 2004 - Article by Kamal Al-Solaylee, The Globe and Mail

There is much ado about Newmarket
Sometimes a show just feels right and when that happens, it can override a multitude of small objections.
July 21, 2004 - Article by Richard Ouzounian, Theatre Critic, Toronto Star

Shakespeare in park actress' dream
Camilla Scott is living out an actress' dream taking the stage in Much Ado about Nothing at Fairy Lake in Newmarket. July 15, 2004 - Article by Caroline Grech, Staff Writer, yorkregion.com

* Theatre History - Much Ado About Nothing

2004 SEASON