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‘Much Ado’ brings gossip, rumor and romance

MONMOUTH — The Theater at Monmouth will present the timeless comedy that introduced two of Shakespeare’s most enjoyable and stubborn lovers, Beatrice and Benedict.

The Bard’s quarrelsome comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing,” will open the theater’s summer season with laughs. Filled with gossip, rumor and romance, the play will feature a big band era soundtrack.

“Much Ado About Nothing” has a post-WWII setting, which quickly shifts from the idea of real war into a much more merry war between the sexes as the soldiers settle down to civilian life. But although soldiers may know how to be heroic in war time, heroism does not always translate easily to times of peace.

Directed by Jeri Pitcher, “Much Ado” will opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 8 with additional performances on July 9, 13, 21 and 30; and Aug. 5, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 20. Tickets are $26 on opening night; all other shows are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and matinees, $20 for students. For reservations, call 933-9999 or visit www.theateratmonmouth.org.

A reception will be held after the show when audience members can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, and an opportunity to meet with the director and cast.

Besides “Much Ado,” the theater’s 2011 repertory includes Shakespeare’s “King Lear;” Long, Singer and Winfield’s “The Compleat Wrks of William Shakespeare, abridged;” Boretz and Allen’s “Room Service;” Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit;” and  the David Wood adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “James and the Giant Peach.” “Coleman, Comden, and Green’s On the Twentieth Century,” featuring professional leads and community members in the chorus, will close the theater’s 42nd season.

Cast members in Theater at Monmouth’s “Much Ado About Nothing” are, from left, front, Jared Michael Delaney and Ambien Mitchell. Back: Andrew Krug and Janet McWilliams.

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