MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

■ What a joyous start to my theatre year was had by experiencing the Australian Shakespeare Company’s Much Ado About Nothing in Melbourne’s splendid Botanic Gardens.

Glen Elston’s team excelled again in marrying nature with the artifices of modern technology and dramatic creativity.

The stars twinkled above while trees and shrubs changed colour as we listened to 80s tunes (original music Paul Norton) blending with Shakespeare’s centuries -old poetry and prose.

The Roadies (Officers of The Watch) entranced us from the start introducing the arrival of Benedick’s Boy Band and Beatrice’s Girl Band and the verbal battle of the sexes took off.

This talented young team of performers revelled in the romantic games and verbal oneupmanship of alternately Beatrice and then Benedick, delighting Leonata’s (Claire Nicholls) court with delicious song and dance parody. Spoiler alert – look out for the cows.

Shakespeare’s bawdy humour was well balanced as the nasty Don John, Kevin Hopkins revealed his dastardly plan, leading to the dramatic scene as Hero , Larisa Teale , is falsely accused at the altar by Claudio, Alex Cooper.

Beatrice, Anna Burgess and Benedick, Nick Cameron carried the high drama of the Kill Claudio scene perfectly. By now we are absolutely involved in this love charade.

Stage choreography (Sue-Ellen Shook), particularly of the useful roadie boxes, almost vaudevillian at times, enabled the story to romp along at a lively pace thanks to the delightful , ubiquitous Roadies (Madeleine Somers and Tony Rive).

Sound in outdoor productions can be uneven, but Will Leslie and Joshua Sunderland were all over it.

Even with the occasional wind vagaries the clarity of diction in prose and song was outstanding and Paul Norton and Tony Harvey’s music was always complimentary, never taking over . Colourful costumes (Karla Erenbots) suited the fun design of the show perfectly.

A splendid steel scaffold stage with wide ranging lighting rig awaited our arrival with our picnic basket and rug – and there were fast delivered coffee or drinks available at interval.

A range of seating choice was available from A Reserve at $110 (inc seat + drink) right down to lawn comfort with your own blanket $25

Unfortunately by the time you read this Much Ado About Nothing will have just finished, but look out for further Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare Under The Stars –and book early to avoid real disappointment.

- Review by Maggie Morrison