Shakespeare RAW: Much Ado About Nothing
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"Well, then, go you into hell?"
No, but to the Best Place for Much Ado About Nothing! As performed in the Shakespeare RAW tradition. Can we call it a tradition at this point? I guess we can because we just did so.
How does it work? I'm glad you asked.
A group of actors arrive the day of the show having read (or at least skimmed) the script so they are at passingly familiar with the text. Then, they pull a character name from the casting director (aka the Hat) to learn who they will be playing that night. They then have approximately 10 minutes to get into character (read: grab a drink) and get ready for their first scene. And the next one. And the one after that. You get the idea.
"But I'm not familiar with the play" you say, well you probably are already but here's the gist:
Leonato, the governor of Messina, is visited by his friend Don Pedro who is returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother Don John. Accompanying Don Pedro are two of his officers: Benedick and Claudio. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter Hero, while Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice, the governor's niece. The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for a marriage. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Don Pedro, with the help of Leonato, Claudio and Hero, attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to trick the two into falling in love. Meanwhile, the villainous Don John, with the help of his allies Conrade and Borachio, plots against the happy couple, using his own form of trickery to try to destroy the marriage before it begins. A series of comic and tragic events may continue to keep the two couples from truly finding happiness, but then again perhaps love may prevail.
Everyone following so far?
You'll have three opportunities to catch this spectacle, September 14th, 15th, and 16th; doors at 7pm, show at 7:30.
The location? Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery. Yeah, the one that looks like a castle. A castle with a decent amount of on-street parking. Sometimes. Hoping that this is one of those times.
Cost is $10 at the door or $5 if you're in "wedding wear". What is "wedding wear"? Well, like most of these deals, it's a pretty loose interpretation. Sure, if you've got a tux collecting dust or an old bridesmaid dress you don't hate, feel free to wear it; but maybe you have a tuxedo t-shirt or a cocktail dress you were wearing in Vegas when you had 5 long islands too many and met "this guy who is soooooo the one" and hit that drive-thru chapel. Basically, convince the door person that you'd wear it to a wedding and you get the $5. That's another $5 you can spend at the bar.
And now that all the necessaries have been stated,
"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never"
No, but to the Best Place for Much Ado About Nothing! As performed in the Shakespeare RAW tradition. Can we call it a tradition at this point? I guess we can because we just did so.
How does it work? I'm glad you asked.
A group of actors arrive the day of the show having read (or at least skimmed) the script so they are at passingly familiar with the text. Then, they pull a character name from the casting director (aka the Hat) to learn who they will be playing that night. They then have approximately 10 minutes to get into character (read: grab a drink) and get ready for their first scene. And the next one. And the one after that. You get the idea.
"But I'm not familiar with the play" you say, well you probably are already but here's the gist:
Leonato, the governor of Messina, is visited by his friend Don Pedro who is returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother Don John. Accompanying Don Pedro are two of his officers: Benedick and Claudio. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter Hero, while Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice, the governor's niece. The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for a marriage. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Don Pedro, with the help of Leonato, Claudio and Hero, attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to trick the two into falling in love. Meanwhile, the villainous Don John, with the help of his allies Conrade and Borachio, plots against the happy couple, using his own form of trickery to try to destroy the marriage before it begins. A series of comic and tragic events may continue to keep the two couples from truly finding happiness, but then again perhaps love may prevail.
Everyone following so far?
You'll have three opportunities to catch this spectacle, September 14th, 15th, and 16th; doors at 7pm, show at 7:30.
The location? Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery. Yeah, the one that looks like a castle. A castle with a decent amount of on-street parking. Sometimes. Hoping that this is one of those times.
Cost is $10 at the door or $5 if you're in "wedding wear". What is "wedding wear"? Well, like most of these deals, it's a pretty loose interpretation. Sure, if you've got a tux collecting dust or an old bridesmaid dress you don't hate, feel free to wear it; but maybe you have a tuxedo t-shirt or a cocktail dress you were wearing in Vegas when you had 5 long islands too many and met "this guy who is soooooo the one" and hit that drive-thru chapel. Basically, convince the door person that you'd wear it to a wedding and you get the $5. That's another $5 you can spend at the bar.
And now that all the necessaries have been stated,
"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never"
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Where is it happening?
Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, 917 W Juneau Ave,Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherBoozy Bard Productions
