Much Ado About Nothing (Hamlet Isn't Dead)

See it if you understand that playing Shakespeare fast & loose is your best chance of playing it faithful to the original.

Don't see it if for you Shakespeare is sacred & immutable.

Also If the actors playing Beatrice & Benedick, Shakespeare’s greatest romantic couple, are as glib of tongue & quick of wit as the mercurial characters they are playing, plus they have terrific rapport, how can a production of "Much Ado about Nothing" go wrong? Hamlet Isn't Dead’s lean & hungry staging gets the central couple totally right—& most of the rest of it right too. The 2 hours run like the wind. The villain Don John is such a snake he’s almost another species. The masked ball is funny & gone in a blink, like good times should be. HID has a small combo at its command at all times, & its raucous version of “Sigh No More” not only occasions a wild group dance, but is brought back for the closing wedding celebration & becomes even more raucous. Dogberry is weird, wonderful & played by a woman as a woman. I cannot recall a false note or forced laugh the entire night. Of how many big budget subsidized British imported Shakespeare productions can you say that? (Hint: None.)... Read more Read less

See it if It's Much Ado; you know if you want to see it or not. This is a more feminist take than many you see. As good as any production I've seen.

Don't see it if You don't like Shakespeare or need 100% adherence to the text.

See it if You don't enjoy Shakespeare performed traditionally

Don't see it if You want to see a traditional interpretation of Much Ado About Nothing (one of the greatest plays of all time)

Also This production apologizes for a play that needs no apologies.

See it if Fab folks at HID gift us again w lighthearted Shakespeare where the tragedy is shortlived & the villains are vanquished w shrugs. Super fun!

Don't see it if you dislike modern interpretations. Note that HID reveres Shakespeare's language. Any added elements only enhance. WS would approve-Probably

See it if you like romance or comedy or romantic comedies

Don't see it if you don't want music in your Shakespeare

Also HID knocks it out of the park yet again! Each individual actor was stellar, the arrangement with the music and whatnot was brilliant, and all the little details came together just phenomenally. This company continues to impress me at every opportunity.... Read more Read less

See it if You love HID shows - fun music - hilarious clowns - & some great acting

Don't see it if Go see it !

See it if You're interested in a fun, fresh take on Shakespeare's classic comedy.

Don't see it if You don't like change.

See it if you like to have a great night out; you like to see Shakespeare staged in a way that makes it relevant and entertaining to a modern audience

Don't see it if you only prefer 4th wall intact Shakespeare; you don't like to have fun!

Also The pacing was fantastic, the text kept moving while still being understandable. All actors played their parts clearly and well; I understood many things for the first time here after having heard the text many times. All "Hamlet Isn't Dead staging decisions" (wacky or otherwise) furthered the core meaning the scenes were trying to get across, whereas many other "contemporary" adaptations force a concept that doesn't really fit to try to tell a slightly different story than what the text is. I highly recommend this show to everyone (even people who aren't Shakespeare nerds) - it's designed to allow for everyone in the audience to have a good time.... Read more Read less

See it if you love to laugh! Also, if you love watching great actors put on a great production!

Don't see it if you hate laughing and having fun or watching people have fun.

See it if You enjoy laughter, anti-cliche Shakespeare, and great original music. Cut is very smart to couple an abundance of wit.

Don't see it if You are a Shakespeare purist and don't have artistic vision.

See it if If you're open to see a great play re-imagined with original music, actors who are masters of the text, and ready to have maybe a wee tear!

Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare, don't enjoy actors speaking directly to you, and aren't interested in having a laugh

See it if you always wished to have the priest at your wedding perform the vows to a rock riff.

Don't see it if you can't imagine an actor becoming a motorcycle, an airplane or an ass.

See it if You love creative, energetic and a fresh view that stays true to the bard but at the same time adds a relevant irrelevance to his work!

Don't see it if you just had oral surgery and are afraid to smile too much

Also This was my second HID production and besides loving their work I am so excited by the new and very professional venue at the Center at West Park. Much Ado About Nothing was indeed "Much To Do About Everything". Go David and James!... Read more Read less

See it if If you enjoy The Bard. Like gossip. Wanna escape social media for two glorious hours. Are a fan of live music and amazing talent.

Don't see it if You don't possess empathy or the desire to watch humanity unfold before your very eyes. Go see this show! Go!

Also I thought the live music as always was perfection. Tight harmonies.

The entire cast is super strong with the dramatic elements, but especially with the comedy.

And the space offers beautiful sound throughout the production.

Congrats to Hamlet Isn't Dead's cast and crew and direction.

Goooooo seee this!... Read more Read less

See it if You want a masterful and hilarious modern adaptation of a classic Shakespeare play.

Don't see it if you're dead? There's no one this isn't fun for.

See it if you like Shakespeare

Don't see it if You don't like Shakespeare

See it if Brought my daughter to see her second ever production of a Shakespeare play. This production was perfect for the whole family! Lovely show!

Don't see it if N/A

See it if You believe Shakespeare’s work are alive and should be done as intended, not locked into the time in which they were written.

Don't see it if You are a traditionalist and don’t enjoy new and innovative takes on class works.

See it if You want a thoroughly fun evening.

Don't see it if You are a curmudgeon.

See it if you love the play and want to see it performed by others who do so as well.

Don't see it if you lack the imagination to be transported by a story without complex production values or special effects.

See it if You want to see a stripped-down, intimate, light-hearted but very well-performed take on one of the Bard's finest comedies

Don't see it if You're a Shakespeare purist, or if you enjoy expensive sets and costumes.