<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-alt:Arial; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:auto; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->
So what does a director do when suffering from the post production blues?
Joss Whedon (Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) took some sage advice from his architect wife, Kai, and pursued a personal ambition of contemporizing Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Using the original text, this classic comedy tells the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick, a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love. Aided by close friends and collaborators from his hit television shows Whedon and his wife funded the film which was shot entirely in their Beverly Hills home in just 12 days.
Leonato (Clark Gregg), the governor of Messina, is visited by his friend Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) who is returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother Don John (Sean Maher). Accompanying Don Pedro are two of his officers: Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Claudio (Fran Kranz).
While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter Hero (Jillian Morgese), while Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice (Amy Acker), the governor's niece. The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for a marriage.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, Don Pedro, with the help of Leonato, Claudio and Hero, attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to trick the two into falling in love.
Meanwhile, the villainous Don John, with the help of his allies Conrade (Riki Lindhome) and Borachio (Spencer Treat Clark), plots against the happy couple, using his own form of trickery to try to destroy the marriage before it begins.
A series of comic and tragic events may continue to keep the two couples from truly finding happiness, but then again perhaps love may prevail.
Much Ado won the IFF Boston Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and Whedon won the 13th Belfast Film Festival Audience Award for the film.
If any Shakespeare-phobes feel this just may be another dry, incomprehensible production from a bygone century I beseech thee to partake of a trailer of the flick and you will see the humour and be thus encouraged to attend the film which will be shown at the Gem Theatre Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Thanks to our sponsors and patrons and especially to Maureen and Marius Paquet of the Gem Theatre.