Love’s Labour’s Lost


STORRS — If you are one of those people who feel that seeing a Shakespearean play is like watching a foreign film without subtitles, rest assured that you are not alone.
Also rest assured that in this highly entertaining and energetic production of Shakespeare’s comedy, “Love’s Labour’s Lost” by the Connecticut Repertory Theater at the University of Connecticut, the cast does a fine job of making the language comprehensible and the story clear.
Creatively staged and set in the high rolling 1920’s, this breezy and colorful production, imaginatively directed by Gabriel Barre, is delightful.
Setting a Shakespeare play in a non-Elizabethan era can be fraught with difficulties, but thankfully the frivolous ‘20’s and the lighthearted, silly premise of this play are a perfect match.
In “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” the youthful King of Navarre, played with proper authority by Nicholas Dillenburg, convinces his three friends, Lords Dumaine, Longaville, and Berowne, played by Dean Alcott, Luke Daniels, and Christopher Hirsh respectively, to join him for three years of study.
The king requires they all sign an oath agreeing to stay away from women, among other depravations, for the whole three years. One of them promises: “I will not love — if I do — hang me.”
So, of course they all fall in love immediately, and spend the rest of the play trying to hide it from each other.
The women they fall for are the Princess of France, played with regal beauty by Heddy Lahmann, and her three friends, Rosaline, Maria, and Katherine, played by Lauretta Pope, Rebecca Ricker-Gilbert, and Catherine Yudain, who all make one of the most unique first entrances ever.
The costumes by Kevin Thacker are gorgeous cotton-candy colored confections — cleverly color-coded as to leave you in no double who pairs up with whom.
The young man in blue is sweet on the young woman also wearing blue, the green-clothed man ends up with the green-attired woman, pink with pink, and purple with purple. Even the shoes were perfectly matched.
The single set, designed by Mike Billings, was an out-door courtyard, with a small pool and trees and many books hanging about. It fit the story well, with lots of playful options.
There seems to be something about this Shakespeare comedy that drives directors to song — case in point is Keith Branagh’s spectacularly awful musical film of “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”
In this production music is employed frequently, composed by Julian Fleisher, and musically directed by Ken Clark, but thankfully it succeeds here, with jazzy accompaniment woven throughout by the excellent band called the “B-Naturals.”
The actors were all clearly having a great time, with much energy, action, and unrestrained calisthenics, particularly by the clownish Costard, played by Joseph Gallina, who certainly had his way with a hat.
Another notably character was Don Adriano de Armado, the vain Spanish buffoon, played with theatrical bravura by Richard Ruiz.
Sadly this show closes far too soon on Saturday, so by all means go see the Connecticut Repertory Theater’s fun and frolicking production of Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

Three Stars

Location: Nafe Katter Theater 802 Bolton Road, Storrs.

Production: Written by William Shakespeare. Directed by Gabriel Barre. Music composed by Julian Fleisher. Music direction by Ken Clark. Scenic design by Mike Billings. Costumes designed by Kevin Thacker. Lighting designed by Arthur W. Whaley. Sound designed by Ed Weingart.

Running time: About 3 hours including one intermission.

Show Times: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through Saturday.

Tickets: Range in price from $11 to $28. Call 486-4266 of visit their Web site at www.crt.uconn.edu.

ACTOR...CHARACTER

Nicholas Dillenburg ... King Ferdinand of Navarre
Christopher Hirsh ... Berowne
Luke Daniels ... Longaville
Dean Alcott ... Dumaine
Richard Ruiz ... Don Adriano de Armado
Kate Shine... Moth
Daniel Sheridan ...Boyet
Sean Keane ...Anthony Dull
Joseph Gallina ...Costard
Walker Jones ...Nathaniel
Heddy Lahmann ...Princess of France
Lauretta Pope... Rosaline
Rebecca Ricker-Gilbert ... Maria
Catherine Yudain ...Katherine
Meghan O’Leary ...Jaquenetta
Hillary Parker...Holofernes
Peter Mutino...Lord
Timothy Byrne...Monsieur Marcade
Dan O’Brien...Forester

The B-Naturals
Jim Wheeler...Guitar and Bass
Dan O’Brien...Bass and Guitar
Peter Mutino...Drums
Timothy Byrne...Clarinet and Percussion