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Review: Much Ado About Nothing (Detour Theatre)
Directed by Devon Williams
Running until September 17

There is certainly much ado about something at Detour Theatre as their annual season of Shakespeare is underway with one of the earlier comedies – Much Ado About Nothing.

Benedick, played by Chris Traill, speaks with Beatrice, played by Melanie Harris in Detour Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing.

For those who are unfamiliar with the tale, it is one of the more complex to follow.

In fact, Detour kindly provides you with an A4 sheet explaining the many dynamics and relationships that make this performance as funny as it is.

In brief, young lovers Hero and Claudio are set to be married in a week.

As a joke, they work together with other members of the wedding party and family to set a ‘lover's trap' for Benedick and Beatrice, who constantly engage in verbal sparring on sight of each other.

Meanwhile, a sinister plot is underway to break up the wedding by accusing the hero of infidelity.

On a backdrop of romance, weddings, deceit and malicious behaviour is one of the ultimate comedy couples –Beatrice and Benedick.

Melanie Harris plays Beatrice perfectly – the sworn man-hater and sensible cousin to the beautiful and romance hero.

Her counterpart, Chris Traill, plays the ever charming bachelor, convinced that marriage will never happen to him.

See where this is going?

Both actors have fantastic chemistry, clearly enjoying the quick banter, and capture the comedic couple perfectly.

Benedick is particularly amusing at the point where, in a drunken state, conceives the idea that perhaps Beatrice isn't all that bad.

What makes this performance so delightful is audience interaction.

Detour is not a large theatre which works well in this instance.

Splitting the audience down the middle, the characters frequently walk through/hide in the audience, bringing them into the world of the comical characters.

I won't give too much away, but sitting in the middle gave me the best view of both worlds.

With multiple exits and entrances, the stage is physically set for a play telling a tale about multiple rumours and tricks, dependent on characters hearing select pieces of the information.

With a large cast of 20, there is a lot of action, wonderful witty word play as only Shakespeare can do and a confusingly amusing tale that will have you engaged and thoroughly entertained.