[ Golden Gater Online - December 4, 1997 ]
Erwin D. David
Staff writer
Ever since the enormous Broadway success of "West Side Story," and up through last year's grung-laden "Romeo and Juliet," William Shakespeare's plays have always been able to reinvent themselves simply by incorporating modern-day music to the production.
The latest Shakespeare installment will follow the same rules, when SF State's theatre arts department uses doo-wop to highlight their production of "Much Ado About Nothing," the sophisticated social comedy written by Shakespeare in 1599. The play is directed by SF State theatre arts faculty member Rhonnie Washington, and previews Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre in the Creative Arts building.
"I decided on doo-wop to underline the axiom that romance is romance," said Washington, assistant professor of theatre arts at SF State since 1989. "It doesn't matter whether it's 10 B.C., or early 17th century or moving into the 21st century."
"My hope is that when people see the play and hear the doo-wop songs, they will realize that it is essentially the same kind of thing," he added.
"Much Ado About Nothing" revolves around a witty war between Benedick, a complacent bachelor who speaks ill of women, and Beatrice, a sharp-tongued shrew who despises men.
Through an intricate plot, they are made to fall in love, acknowledge their mutual affection and marry. The play also depicts the melodramatic romance of Hero and Claudio.
"I guess doo-wop does put a modernized influence on the play, but it's not about being modern," Washington said. "It's about the timelessness of romance."
"I think doo-wop works really well," said SF State theater arts student Brandon Turner, who plays Benedick. "It adds a nice dimension to what we saw on stage."
Washington has high hopes for the production because it has been entered in the American College Theater Festival, the first time an SF State production has been entered in over 20 years.
"I think there's a lot of really talented actors involved," Washington said." I really feel blessed to have so many talented people participating in the production."
Washington adjudicated for the American College Theater Festival before and thought it was a good idea for SF State to participate. Winner of top prize for the best production is going to Washington, D.C. and winning $5,000.
"I think the cast members are extra motivated," said Washington when the members learned of the entry.
Although Washington has never directed a Shakespeare play before, he has acted in many Shakespeare productions. His directorial credits at SF State include "Fires in the Mirror" by Anna Deavere-Smith, which played in the fall of 1996, and "Nobody Knows," a James Baldwin retrospective.
He acquired his master's degree in acting in 1976, and a doctorate degree in directing with a minor in theater history and criticism in 1983, both at the University of Michigan.
"I think the story itself is very entertaining," Washington said.
"Watching all of the misunderstandings and the negotiations the characters go through in trying to come to grips with love is interesting. Marriage and love don't make sense. If you expect them to make sense, you're going to have a problem," he said.
SF State's production of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" will open with a preview Thursday at 8 p.m., 2 p.m. for Sunday shows. General admission is $9. For more information, call (415) 338-2467.
[ Golden Gater - December 4, 1997 ]