By Nana Amma Intsiful <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ardeo Theatre hosted\u00a0\u201cMuch Ado About Nothing,\u201d a play by William Shakespeare.\u00a0The play ran last month and was performed at Hodson Outdoor Amphitheater at Hood College, Aug. 21-29, put on by the Frederick<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shakespeare Festival. Among the troupe is Rook Bartlett, who is part of the production team; they attend Hood College, alongside Aaron Angello, who is an associate professor of English at Hood College.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ardeo Theatre is Aaron Angello\u2019s company.\u00a0They have a group of people whom they work with often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe sort of work with the same actors and then we hold auditions and we fill it in,\u201d Angello said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bartlett spoke about some of the most enjoyable parts of production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing silly and having fun with the actors; the cast was also willing to be vulnerable and playful with their roles,\u201d Bartlett said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The theme for this year was the \u201980s, which came from Angello. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just had an idea of doing it that way. It\u2019s typical to dress Shakespeare in different time periods, you know?\u201d Angello said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The play incorporates a lot of \u201980s music and outfits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun to sort of mix it up, and I thought the \u201980s would be fun because it was kind of a superficial time a little bit,\u201d Angello said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was just kind of nostalgic for a lot of people. The music is dancey and fun, the pleasure the audience would have having that music and the costumes and stuff. Make it more fun,\u201d Angello said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bartlett believes that live theater is important, especially now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTheater in general, and live theater, and going to see productions is more important than ever,\u201d Bartlett said. \u201cI think that going to see a show and being with people and experiencing something at the same time as someone that you do not know, especially experiencing art with someone that you do not know, there’s something truly special about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bartlett believes vulnerability is a main throughline of this play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen you let yourself love, and you let yourself be close and open to people, that is when you are going to be the happiest and best version of yourself,\u201d Bartlett said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Bartlett focuses on the deeper theme of the\u00a0production, Angello focuses on an enjoyable experience for the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just about having a good time and I\u2019m intentionally trying to make it a play that allows the audience just to have a good time.\u00a0That was my goal.\u00a0I think we did a pretty good job,\u201d Angello said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a fun and memorable night for everyone who attended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next play the two are working on is \u201cRomeo and Juliet\u201d at Hood College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
##<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"