The Clemson Players kicked off the start of its 2024-2025 season with a production of “Much Ado About Nothing” on Tuesday.
The romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare is a 90-minute production with no intermission. It features a cast of 13 actors, with some playing multiple roles. The production takes place in Bellamy Theatre, a small and intimate venue where the audience feels a part of the show. The talent and passion that this team has definitely do not go unnoticed.
The production itself is set in Italy, and the set immediately transports the audience there. The set consisted of a two-story platform made to look like a house. Everything was extremely detailed — from the paintings to the plants — enhancing the actors’ performances. There were multiple props around the set that the actors were able to use to captivate the audience’s attention.
In addition to the set, the costumes also helped add to the production. While there were many costume changes, each costume was very intentional for the scene. It allowed the audience to better connect with the characters and their personalities. Each costume piece gave the audience the right visual details to understand the scene and even increase the comedic effect.
The production team also did an incredible job with the lights and the music. A variety of instrumental music, from classical piano to upbeat melodies, would play in between each scene, acting as a transition and keeping the audience engaged. The lights and the music were really able to capture the mood of the scene, allowing the audience to get the full picture.
The actors did a fantastic job portraying each character. Being in such a small theater allowed for the actors to involve the audience, keeping everyone engaged. The audience was able to see the cast’s love and passion for theater and the considerable talent that they possess. They did a great job using the entire set and props to increase the quality of the performance. The audience was constantly laughing due to the fun and creative twist that the actors put in the production. This was such an outstanding performance and a fun take on the classic Shakespeare play.
The Clemson Players will continue their production this week from Oct. 2 to 5 at 7:30 p.m., as well as matinees at 3 p.m. on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6.
