{"id":213332,"date":"2025-04-04T13:06:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T23:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=213332"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:17:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T01:17:39","slug":"shakespeares-much-ado-gets-70s-twist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/04\/shakespeares-much-ado-gets-70s-twist\/","title":{"rendered":"Disco, deception and dueling lovers\u2014Shakespeare\u2019s Much Ado gets a \u201970s twist"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Anna Hope Lawson, Jaden Malucay Manibog, Kainui Lyman, and Kellen Pearce in Much Ado About Nothing<\/em> (Photo credit: Brad Goda)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boogie back to a time when the world seemed to be turning around, when we made more love than war, and even in the most profound grief there was humor and hope. Windward Community College\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts<\/a> presents William Shakespeare\u2019s Much Ado About Nothing<\/em> set in 1973, directed by Taurie Kinoshita, at Palikū Theatre<\/a> April 25–May 4, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Jessica Jusseaume, Kainui Lyman, Kellen Pearce, Jaden Malucay Manibog in Much Ado About Nothing<\/em> (Photo credit: Brad Goda)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Much Ado About Nothing<\/em> is a raucous comedy filled with dancing, drama, mistaken identity, decisive deceptions and hapless misunderstandings. Full of romantic liaisons and male rivalry, the verbal sparring of Benedick and the outspoken Beatrice is wildly fun and was revolutionary for its time. Subsequently, having female characters who were intellectual equals became popular on stage.<\/p>\n

“The genius of Much Ado About Nothing<\/em> is proven by nearly 500 years of continuous performance, and as one of Shakespeare’s most modern plays it\u2019s accessible to all,” Kinoshita said. “Benedick and Beatrice are as immortal as Romeo and Juliet—but funnier, and spoiler alert: they don’t die! Disco, drag, dueling lovers and disguise-parties—what more could you want?”<\/p>\n

In this retelling, young men are returning from the Vietnam War and negotiating civilian life while the political climate is changing radically: Roe v. Wade, Watergate, homosexuality no longer classified as a disease by the National Psychiatrics Board—it was an optimistic time. Despite events such as Kent State and the Second Wounded Knee, young people had a sense of empowerment.<\/p>\n

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Zaden Jay Brub and Claire de Lune in Much Ado About Nothing<\/em> at Paliku Theatre (Photo credit: Brad Goda)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Show dates and times:<\/p>\n