Photo by PNBHS

Much Ado About Nothing presented by The Rector’s Company 🎭

PNBHS — June 26th, 2023

All aboard the SS Medina for mayhem and mischief Shakespearean style!!

So it was this week with The Rector’s Company presenting its nautically themed take on Much Ado About Nothing in the Little Theatre. Those attending entered a totally transformed space:

Director Phillip Mills, Costume, Makeup and general Design person Catherine Mills and members of the Company gave us a glittering shipboard lounge (with various other relevant accoutrements such as an inflatable liferaft!)

Seated in the round, the audience was treated to a high energy performance, colourful in costume and innuendo as the cast cleverly worked the dialogue. Shakespearean script is a mouthful for any actor and these young men did extremely well to master their lines and timing. Jesse Franks, in particular, as the ego driven Benedict, was regularly called on to deliver a verbal avalanche and did so with confidence and skill. Camden Woodroffe stood out as the Machiavellian Don John as did Matthew Wongchoti as the “wronged” Claudio, Isaac Fox as the proud Leanato and Jonathan Stone as the notoriously spoonerizing Dogberry. Campbell Mackintosh (haughty Beatrice) and James Rattray (love-sick Hero) were confident and convincing, and amused with their assumed femininity as the leading ladies.

Well done to the whole Company including our Lighting and Front of House students. This was only the first night so a tad more tightness would come with the run bur it was an excellent start. Thanks must go to Phil and Catherine Mills for their dedication to providing this wonderful opportunity for our young men.

Cast

Balthasar - Josh Webster

George Seacole/Watch/Batman - Lenny Hansen-Wall

Messenger/Watch/Robin - Jaden Durston

Leonato - Isaac Fox

Beatrice - Campbell Mackintosh

Hero - James Rattray

Don Pedro - Henry Bovey

Claudio - Matthew Wongchoti

Benedick - Jesse Franks

Don John - Camden Woodroofe

Conrade/Riddler - Angus Taylor