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Classic, comic love story gets a Latin twist.


Byline: The Register-Guard

`Battling lovers'' Benedick and Beatrice will thrust and parry wittily as they always do in William Shakespeare's comedy ``Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600, it was likely first performed in the winter of 1598-1599,[1] and it remains one of Shakespeare's most enduring plays on stage. ,'' which opens Friday at the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. . But this time, they'll do so over a soundtrack that includes ``nouveau flamenco'' and other Spanish/Latin music, including tango and a little salsa.

Director Bob Barton got the idea while watching something with flamenco flamenco, Spanish music and dance typical of the Gypsy, or gitano. Flamenco dancing is characterized by colorful costumes, intense and erotic movements, stamping of the feet (zapateado), and clapping of the hands (palmada  in it.

"It's so flamboyant and competitive," he said, "really good music for Beatrice and Benedick Beatrice and Benedick

witty rebels against love; become enamored. [Br. Lit.: Much Ado About Nothing]

See : Love, Victorious
."

Unlike Kate and Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew shrew, common name for the small, insectivorous mammals of the family Soricidae, related to the moles. Shrews include the smallest mammals; the smallest shrews are under 2 in. (5.1 cm) long, excluding the tail, and the largest are about 6 in. (15 cm) long. ," whose combat is more physical, Beatrice and Benedick are two fun-loving cynics Cynics (sĭn`ĭks) [Gr.,=doglike, probably from their manners and their meeting place, the Cynosarges, an academy for Athenian youths], ancient school of philosophy founded c.440 B.C. by Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates.  who incessantly attack each other in a war of witty insults until others set in motion a merry plot to convince them that each is the object of the other's secret passion.

A more serious plot line involves Hero, a virtuous maiden who is falsely accused of promiscuous behavior on her wedding day and "dies" of grief while her defenders work to restore her good name and reputation.

In the end, it all proves to be much ado about nothing, and the play ends with a double wedding, proving that "the course of true love never did run smooth."

"This play provides many roles for young actors, which the University Theatre has in abundance, and the central romance resonates with those who have stumbled and even limped to love," Barton says. "The script is sometimes startlingly star·tle  
v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles

v.tr.
1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start.

2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten.
 contemporary, particularly in its portrayal of how characters' defenses and neuroses can prevent them from open and honest communication."

Barton says that the production team created "an irresistible fantasy of the place European people in the last century would have chosen for vacations ... We have hot Spanish music and dance, an attitude carried into the encounters of characters.''

CAPTION(S):

Boldfaceand this is light text and this is more light text Chris Hirsh and Sarah Griner play Benedick and Beatrice, the sharp-tongued unlikely lovers who fall for each other in University Theatre's "Much Ado About Nothing."
COPYRIGHT 2004 The Register Guard
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Entertainment
Publication:The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)
Date:May 9, 2004
Words:338
Previous Article:Dance concert aimed at children.(Entertainment)
Next Article:Elevating the stage.(Entertainment)(Nearing retirement, directing his last UO play, professor reflects on the value of drama education)



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