Posted by: Paul Keen and Cynthia Sugars
The Company of Adventurers is back for its 11th season! We’re thrilled to announce this year’s show: Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy Much Ado About Nothing.
We have a great show in store for you again this year, filled with music, madcap antics, and some comical audience participation. Much Ado About Nothing tells the story of Shakespeare’s famously quarrelsome couple, Beatrice and Benedick, who squabble constantly because they are too proud – or afraid? – to admit that they actually like each other. Their friends subject them to an elaborate practical joke which leads to ridiculous misunderstandings, hidden eavesdroppers, and a zany masked ball which we guarantee will have you laughing. The plot is thickened by a set of scheming villains who try to ruin everyone’s fun, an inept policeman, and a group of bumbling detectives. Do the detectives catch the criminals? Come out and see!
It’s been a difficult summer for The Company of Adventurers as we were rendered homeless due to last year’s Bylaw inquiry. The court hearing has been postponed until the fall, so we have been in limbo for a year while we await the outcome. In the meantime, we have been nomads dependent on the generosity of others. We would like to extend our enormous gratitude to three local organizations in particular: Sunnyside Wesleyan Church, for coming to our rescue in July and providing us an emergency sanctuary (literally) for our daytime week; Carleton University for allowing us to use part of their grounds in the early stage of rehearsals before our set was ready; and St. Giles Presbyterian Church for letting us use their space for intermittent rehearsals and storage. We are enormously grateful to all of these, and to the many friends and neighbours who have offered us advice and enthusiastic support during this challenging time (even offering us the use of their yards!).
The kids in our cast have welcomed the opportunity to gather in person this summer after such a tough year. And what a show they have in store for you! They have done a fabulous job. Our show is great for all ages. We guarantee it will have you laughing! Shows will be performed at The Gladstone Theatre, which is generously hosting us. The Gladstone, like all arts groups, has had a hard time during the pandemic, and we are delighted to perform these shows as a fundraiser for them. Actors will pass a hat after performances.
Tickets are free and can be reserved through Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.ca/e/much-ado-about-nothing-tickets-166683927113 (or search “Company of Adventurers Much Ado About Nothing”). For information, contact Cynthia at csugars@uottawa.ca.
Paul and Cynthia organize The Company of Adventurers and live in OOS.
Featured in the September 2021 OSCAR.
The Company of Adventurers presents Much Ado About Nothing
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 6:30 pm
Friday, Sept. 3, 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sept. 4, 1:30 pm (matinee) and 6:30 pm
Sunday, Sept. 5, 1:30 pm (matinee)
At the Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Avenue, corner of Gladstone and Preston.
Ottawa Public Health measures will be followed for all performances, including reduced capacity seating and social distancing. Also, everyone in our show has been double vaccinated!