The Fox High School Theatre Troupe will perform William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” this weekend.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, and 1 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday, Nov. 5. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens.
Theatre Troupe director Sam Meyer said tickets may be purchased at the door with cash or check.
The comedy is about young lovers Claudio and Hero overcoming deceit to achieve their happy ending, as well as Benedick and Beatrice, who declare they will never marry but change their tunes when their friends conspire to bring the pair together.
“This play is absolutely hilarious,” said Fox High senior Xandra Little, 17, of Arnold, who plays the part of Don Gianna. “There is so much going on at once. Everything goes wrong, and it creates such an atmosphere of chaos that it is so hard not to laugh. I have been doing theater since I was 4 years old, and I have done mostly comedies. This is in the top three for the funniest shows I have ever done.”
Meyer said not only is “Much Ado About Nothing” one of Shakespeare’s funnier plays, but also it’s one of his more accessible ones.
“The lines sound more like how we talk now,” Meyer said. “It is so funny. You have these characters trying to fall in love with each other, and there are other characters trying to trick other characters to fall in love. The characters are so witty, intelligent and funny.”
Fox High senior Ella Myers, 17, of High Ridge, who plays the part of Beatrice, said she’s having fun performing in the romantic comedy.
“I think everyone is doing a good job creating jokes and gags,” she said. “Every kind of joke that we can fit in, we have put in. I think everyone is doing a good job of understanding what their lines mean and how to deliver the jokes. I think it is a lot of fun, and it will be a hit with the audience.”
Little said the cast members are doing great work.
“We have a wonderful mix of comedic actors, dramatic actors and those who can do a mix of both,” she said. “Everyone is cast perfectly.”
Fox High senior Rachel Rushman, 17, of Fenton, who plays Leonata, agrees.
“We have been working hard on this show, and it is going to be amazing,” she said. “We want to share that hard work with everyone.”
Meyer said “Much Ado About Nothing” is filled with great scenes, and he enjoys the end.
“You want to stick around for the last act to see how everything gets wrapped up,” he said. “It is only in watching the entire play you understand the title.”
Junior Alayna McKenzie will play Benedick; junior Justice Wilson will play Claudio; and junior Kirsten Vilcek will play Hero.
The cast also includes seniors Megan Stengel, Robert Kuehn, Jillian Grissom, Evan Keys, Peyton Kraus and Sarah Monroe; juniors Maggie McCallister, Andrew Proctor, Amanda Cook, Zdena Roseberry and Alex Nunn; sophomores Gabe Gullet, Sage Gilbert, Lily Johnston and Ava Vincent; freshmen Riley Jones, Oli Usher, Elaina Appelhaus, Megan Kraus, Sophie Tullock, Camille Henry and Gabriel Ostrander.
For more information about the Theatre Troupe, go to sites.google.com/foxc6.org/foxhighfinearts.