Shakespeare, Lozano, & Ball Surf the Swell in Style

by Robert M. Gardner

Marin Shakespeare Company’s latest production, set at a surfing beach in Key West, Florida, catches a killer wave. Nina Ball’s surf shack and Tiki-Bar set design, painted in bright blue, orange, and yellow, make a spectacular and charming beach resort.

In Director Domenique Lozano’s updated version of Shakespeare’s beloved “Much Ado About Nothing,” Don Pedro (commanding Edward Neville) and his friends are uniformed officers of the U.S. Navy. They are stationed nearby and hang out around the surf shop—romancing the local girls.

Lozano transforms the male villain into Don Joan (suave Stevie DeMott) and establishes her love affair with Borachia (sprightly Anina Baker) for an updated, lesbian plot twist. Choreographer Bridgette Loriaux designs delightful, sensual dances that add to the youthful enthusiasm of the show. The cast performs the witty dances with precision and joy.

Admiral Don Pedro returns triumphantly with two of his most trusted officers, serious Claudio (explosive Tai White) and joking Benedick (dynamic Johnny Moreno). They soon meet two ladies: Sweet Hero (delightful Diyar Banna) and feisty Beatrice (mesmerizing Bridgette Loriaux). Claudio falls for naive Hero, while Benedick tries to avoid the anti-romantic Beatrice. Their debates reflect the anxiety that inhibits true love.

When Claudio and Hero set a wedding date, Don Joan busily hatches a plot to destroy their wedding, to embarrass Don Pedro, her older brother. Her lie—delivered via social media—breaks the thread of love. Claudio becomes enraged at his bride, shaming her at their wedding. White and Banna boldly play the deep and touching accusations, exposing how women are forced to bear the blame for men’s mistakes.

Reacting to the false accusations, Hero collapses in a dead faint. Only her mother, Imogen (versatile Keiko Shimosato Carreiro) and her cousin Beatrice believe in Hero.

Hero’s indulgent father Leonato (outstanding Victor Talmadge) believes the slanders. Leonato proclaims loudly that Hero, has brought shame upon them—a powerful scene of a cruel father and abused daughter.

Talmadge excels in his role as first, a supportive, then repentant father. On learning the truth, he abjectly apologizes, confessing his inadequacy: “On the day of your birth my greatest fear was that someday I would fail you.”

The most ridiculous and foolish policemen, Dogberry (comic Richard Pallaziol) and his sidekick Verges (Carreiro) mangle the language and arrest everybody in sight. They manage to get everything wrong. But finally, they stumble on the secret that exposes the villainous Don Joan.

The romantic comedy moves from Claudio and Hero to Beatrice and Benedict who claim they are “too wise to woo peaceably.” Their quick barbs and acid wit leave them unwilling to admit their love. Yet Benedick finally relents and insists, “I do not love anything so well as you.”

Kudos to Lozano and her excellent cast and crew for a richly witty Shakespeare comedy. “Much Ado” fits perfectly outdoors at Dominican University’s beautiful Forest Meadows Amphitheatre. Shakespeare is glorious in that park setting.

The surf is up, so get amped and join the beach bums for an exciting, soulful trip to Key West in San Rafael.

“Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, adapted & directed by Domenique Lozano, set design by Nina Ball, choreographed by Bridgette Loriaux, costume design by Rebecca Valentino, sound design by Ben Euphrat, lighting design by Christian Mejia, properties design by Amy Benjamin, & dramaturgy by Philippa Kelly.

—at Marin Shakespeare Company, San Rafael, California, at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, Dominican University, 890 Belle Ave., San Rafael. Info: marinshakes.org – to July 28, 2024.

Cast: Anina Baker, Diyar Banna, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, Stevie DeMott, Bridgette Loriaux, Johnny Moreno, Edward Neville, Richard Pallaziol, Victor Talmadge, and Tai White.

Banner photo: Diyar Banna, Victor Talmadge, Bridgette Loriaux, Johnny Moreno, Richard Pallaziol, Keiko Shimosato Carreiro. Photos: Jay Yamada