PROVO — A lively rendition of Much Ado About Nothing by the Grassroots Shakespeare Company premiered at the BYU Botany Pond on May 25. The show encapsulated the fun, witty, and sometimes raucous nature of Shakespeare’s works. Free shows like this one are a vital avenue for sharing the Bard’s work with the general public in a way that is not only easy to understand, but incredibly enjoyable.
The iconic play follows the romantic misadventures of Claudio, Hero, Benedict, and Beatrice. Claudio is fooled into thinking Hero is unfaithful and leaves her at the altar. Benedict and Beatrice begin as rivals, but after hearing rumors of each other’s love they both confess their true feelings. Claudio learns the truth about Hero and repents of his earlier actions. The play concludes with a grand double wedding.
The Grassroots Shakespeare Company is all about bringing fun, authentic Shakespearean experiences to the public. Their shows are uniquely performed the way that Shakespeare intended. The cast is often given little time to prepare, (a mere 10 days in this case), and there is no director.
The set was relatively basic and reminiscent of a medieval fair, with cloth entrances/exits, ladders to either side, and a single trap door. The setup was meant for outdoor use and could be moved between venues. Despite the limited options, the actors got creative. They made sure every opening was used to the fullest, pulling and replacing curtains as they revealed each other. At one point, Eleila Bradford as Don John crawled beneath the stage in an attempt to evade his pursuers. The actors got up close and personal with the audience, walking between people in the front, or even using them as living props. Audience members sat on blankets or lawn chairs in front of the stage. There was no fourth wall.
Talking back to the actors was not only allowed, but encouraged! Actors commented on specific people they saw. There were moments when a comment yelled out by an audience member was responded to by either the actors or the sound effects group. In this way, the play felt less like a formal show on a stage and more like gossip shared between good friends.
There was no costume designer. Each actor brought whatever they had in their closet that embodied the spirit of their character. For example, Bradford (Don John) wore dark sunglasses, a fedora, and a tee-shirt with the word “Villain” written across it in red. The city guards were portrayed as life guards, even capturing their victim with an inner tube. The November Hunt as flirty Benedict wore a pink floral button down and came out wielding double Capri-Sun juice pouches as if he were drinking alcohol.
This style of show makes Shakespeare accessible to those who find themselves either daunted by the language of Shakespeare or confused with the conventions of that time. While the words remain the same, the actors portray the meaning in a more modern way.
Katherine Moulton played Beatrice with wit and flair. The chemistry between Moulton and Hunt made their performance electric. They pulled energy from each other, lobbing insults and comments back and forth in a manner that was both natural and exciting. Their kiss at the end felt like the only possible conclusion for their characters, and made the crowd cheer. Bradford pulled off the evil Don John with a flamboyant air that fueled both laughter and booing. The show’s star couple, Ash Peterson as Claudio and Alexandra Vaughn as Hero, shared a charming attraction, though they could have projected a bit more to be heard by those at the back.
The show was supported by live instruments, with Gary Argyle on the guitar and Beth Moulton creating other sound effects. These effects added to the understanding of the show, building moments of suspense, creating a romantic mood, and punctuating jokes. These two also turned on a few basic lights when it became dark outside.
The beauty of live performance with encouraged audience participation is that the show was unique. Spontaneous choices from the audience created authentic reactions from the cast. Young children booed at Bradford’s Don John. Hunt’s Benedict stole hats from the crowd as he pretended to hide from his friends. Jaxton Romeo Brenner’s Don Pedro invited any woman from the audience to come marry him and someone took him up on the offer!
While there are plenty of outdoor theater opportunities this summer, Grassroots Shakespeare Company is one of the best because you not only get to see the play, you get to become part of it. Prior to the show, there were songs, jokes, and a quiz about Shakespeare. It was an experience that the entire family could enjoy, regardless of age. With a ticket price of zero dollars, there’s simply no reason to miss out on Much Ado About Nothing.
MORE INFO: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is currently playing at local parks everywhere from Provo to Ogden and in between. Performances are typically held at 7:30 PM on select evenings, with a hilarious pre-show starting at 7:00 PM. Performances go through June 29, 2026. Tickets for Much Ado About Nothing are free, however, donations are greatly appreciated and can be given at https://account.venmo.com/u/GSCutah. Seating is determined on a first come, first served basis. Bringing lawn chairs or blankets is advised. For the most up-to-date schedule and performance locations, visit the Grassroots Shakespeare Co. website: https://grassroots-shakespeare.com/.