Opening night of “Much Ado About Nothing” at Vancouver’s cherished Bard on the Beach was a charming and laugh-out-loud adventure that delivered for the duration of its lengthy 3-hour runtime. As the sun slowly dipped behind the mountains, the open air stage with its Italian-inspired set design started to meld with the golden backdrop of the north shore.
The performance itself was spirited and full of life, driven by a mix of veteran and fresh-faced stage actors. Shakespeare’s wit remains razor-sharp centuries later, but this production leaned into the comedy with a few well-placed edits that gave the language just enough polish for modern ears without losing the play’s soul. The chemistry between the leads sparkled, especially in the witty banter between Benedick and Beatrice. The entire cast delivered with warmth, charm, and great comedic timing throughout.
Intermission gave us a chance to relive some memorable moments while refueling with ice cream and red wine as we scoped out the classy-looking crowd that included BC Premiere David Eby.
At the final curtain, the entire crowd rose in a standing ovation and cheered on their favourite characters. It’s not every night that you get Shakespeare, ice cream, and the North Shore mountains in one perfect package. Much Ado indeed, but not about ‘nothing’ – let summer theatre season begin!
– Ryan Schwartz