Freewill Shakespeare Festival makes a triumphant return with ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

After years of battling restrictions caused by COVID-19 and construction, the Freewill Shakespeare Festival has finally returned to Hawrelak Park. Set under the shelter of the vast Heritage Amphitheatre, the festival sprang to life in Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. The soft sounds of geese across the lake and crickets in the grass filled the air as the audience settled in for the evening. The atmosphere was one of great excitement and anticipation — many festival diehards have been waiting for this moment after years of alternative venues. Thankfully, after much ado, the festival is back and better than ever.

The cast’s energy was palpable the moment they stepped on stage. The ensemble meshed beautifully — it was obvious the cast was having just as much fun as the audience. Jesse Gervais’ performance as Sir Benedick was the heart of the show. He combined incredible comedic instincts with a heartfelt interior, making his portrayal both hilarious and sympathetic. Gervais’ chemistry with the equally sharp-witted and -tongued Vanessa Sabourin as Beatrice brought the entire performance together. Their dynamic was extremely entertaining and obviously comfortable. A standout moment arrived when a stray squirrel appeared on stage, and the two began improvising in response to its arrival. After a few lines of clever nut puns, Gervais turned to Sabourin in a moment of beautiful honesty, exclaiming that he had “no idea where [they] were” in the scene. Instead of feeling unprofessional or out of place, this moment of genuine vulnerability invited the audience further into the actors’ world, creating a sense of camaraderie between player and viewer. Perhaps the relaxed atmosphere created by the outdoor setting aided in this feeling as well.

Another standout from the cast was Ron Pederson as Don John and Dogberry. His first act performance as the malicious Don John served the show perfectly well, but his second act performance as the bumbling Dogberry was where his talents truly shone. An unstoppable comedic force, he threw himself into scenes with the spirit of what can only be described as Rick Moranis on cocaine. His ridiculous cop persona bounced off the walls, screaming at ne’er-do-wells and scrambling to administer their punishment. His physical comedy never grew old, even after doing the same slapstick bits over and over again. Pederson’s erratic presence was the cherry on top of a comedic goldmine of a cast.

The design of the show bounced between the contemporary and notions of the past. The presence of iPads, puffy makeup headbands, and helicopter sound effects placed the story in the modern world. Still, the presence of swords amidst military regalia reminded the audience of the show’s Shakespearean roots. Wardrobe designer Ami Farrow even snuck in an homage to 50s summer fashion with a few headscarves and vintage sunglasses. The costuming was beautiful. The bright colours complemented the actors’ ferocious energy, and popped against the beige background of a sprawling Italian villa. The villa itself was intentionally timeless, simply evoking a vision of careless Italian wealth.

Much Ado About Nothing proves what we’ve known for centuries — sometimes, an audience simply wants to laugh. At the end of the day, there is nothing funnier than watching a group of clueless characters create a stir over, well, nothing. Freewill’s production recognizes that fact and never ceases to deliver on it.

The Freewill Shakespeare Festival continues on July 1 with their production of Something Rotten!