Group Bio:
Theatre SMC
Theatre SMC has been in existence for 17 years and is dedicated to the training of young people in Theatre Arts. In 2006 the Company enjoyed its best season as it performed David French's That Summer on eight occasions throughout the province. It is the first high school production to ever win Quonta (a regional festival for community level theatre) and then proceed to compete at Theatre Ontario. The group garnered 10 awards (17 nominations) in total at the two festivals.
Last year's creative team of Joseph Lauzon and Loretta Durat are once again working together in tandem on Theatre SMC's production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Much Ado is a wickedly funny treatise on the fickle, often-fierce nature of love. One of Shakespeare's liveliest comedies will be re-imagined in Canada at the end of World War II, circa 1945. Underscored by the big band sounds of swaggering brass and pounding rhythms, the battle of sexes will be fought and won! |
On the surface, Much Ado About Nothing focuses on the stories of two couples and their convoluted paths towards love and marriage. Benedick and Beatrice share an adversarial relationship peppered with sharp barbs and mutual scorn until they are brought together via a delightful deceptive trap that reveals a hidden truth. The other couple, Claudio and Hero have their path to wedlock disrupted by a scandalous hoax that sends the summer festivity into disarray. The shenanigans, duplicity and witty word play reveal a treatise on friendship, revenge, deception, courtship, love and marriage. Shakespeare combines a mature cynicism with an awareness that the social realities surrounding courtship may detract from the joys of love. Theatre SMC, through its 17 year history, has impressed audiences with its commitment to quality productions and development of young actors. In keeping with tradition, this production of Much Ado About Nothing will feature hard-working, passionate young actors: Stephanie Russell, Andrew Lorimer, Conor Doan, Nicole Marasco and Stephen Piazza along with a highly enthusiastic and talented young ensemble. The cast also includes some of the best theatre vets in town: Carol Colombo, Brent Vallee, Jeannine Jefferson, Alar Poldmaa and Marty Frolick.
