CHIMACUM — With a cast of teenagers, Shakespeare’s comedy “Much Ado about Nothing” will frolic across the stage tonight through Sunday at the Chimacum Grange, 9572 Rhody Drive.
The bard’s classic of love, misunderstandings and, at last, harmony has just three performances this weekend: at 7 tonight, a 3 p.m. matinee Saturday and at 7 p.m. Sunday.
The Olympic Peninsula Home Connection, the home-schooling parents’ cooperative affiliated with the Crescent School District, is presenting the play, with admission a suggested donation of $3 to $10 at the door.
Refreshments will be for sale during intermission at each three-hour performance.
In this tale, we meet Beatrice and Benedick, a woman and man at odds while the nearby Claudio and Hero are falling madly in love.
A “merry war” ensues between Benedick and Beatrice until each is tricked into admitting true love for the other.
But all doesn’t end well yet. Claudio is deceived into believing Hero has been unfaithful. And so, with abundant humor along the way, the couples must work things out before they can wed.
‘Lots of laughter’
“There is some live music and lots of laughter in our production,” promised Macrina Lewis, one of the play’s parent-directors.
The Olympic Peninsula Home Connection students have devoted a whole semester to “Much Ado,” she added.
“It has been a big undertaking, but the kids have risen to the occasion,” she said, “and it promises to be a lot of fun.
“It’s a great accomplishment that we are excited to share with the community.”
Among the actors bringing Shakespeare’s classic to life are high-schoolers Peter Glitsch as Benedick, Emilia Lewis as Beatrice, Daniel Elsberry as Claudio, Noah Falge as Don Pedro, Kelsey Ferrenberg as Leonata, Emily Bufford playing both Ursula and Antonia, Zara Kulish as Dogberry and eighth-grader Leah Nieman as Hero.
For more information about the production and about the Olympic Peninsula Home Connection program, email ophctickets@gmail.com or phone 360-643-1936.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
