“She speaks poignards and every word stabs,” declares Signor Benedick of his verbal fencing partner in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, the current production of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society.Though the wooing and undoing of the lovely, innocent Hero is ostensibly the action driving the plot, it is the evolution of the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick that the audience is most interested in.It is therefore entirely appropriate that the standout performances in the play directed by John Zuill should be that of Robbie Godfrey (Benedick) and Jenny Burrell (Beatrice), ably supported by James Birch as Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon and Deborah Pharoah-Williams playing Leonata, Lady Mayor of Messina.As much because of the script as because of the direction, Kristen Darrell’s meek young Hero is rather overshadowed by the dynamic role of her sharp-tongued cousin.However the ‘liming’ (entrapment) of Beatrice by Hero and Ursula (played by Barbara Jones) was well done, almost playing with the restrictions of the acting space itself. And Hero’s wooer, young Claudio, played by Charles Doyle, clearly comes across as a young pup who has much to learn about life and is suitably chastened in the end.There is an able supporting cast, including a morose Don John played by Doug Jones, and a delightful cameo performance by Alan Brooks cast in the role of the pompous constable Dogberry. Two a cappella solos by Emma Muggleton add another layer to the production.Interpreting the action as taking place “somewhere in the western world at the end of World War II”, the director has pulled the play from the top shelf of the canon of English literature and dusted it off for a modern audience and for the most part this works. The uniforms seem a tad flamboyant for men who’ve come directly from the Battle of Berlin or the bombing of Tokyo, and I was puzzled by some of the other costume choices. While chewing gum might have been a mid-century fad, I’m not sure such behaviour would have been tolerated in the staff of a well-run mayoral household, and I found it distracting.The setting of the production, Victoria Park, is ideal for the intimate, somewhat laid-back approach to the play and underscores the fact that much of the action takes place out of doors. Theatre-goers partaking of picnic suppers on the surrounding grass blurred the boundaries between audience and acting space, further enhancing the Bohemian atmosphere.My concerns about acoustics were unfounded except for one or two extremely loud (probably illegal) bikes, all the lines were audible and the lack of set enhanced the fluidity of the action; the masque scene was particularly well done.Shakespeare’s clever comedy of wooing and women, lovers and lies is a welcome addition to this summer’s line-up, and cast and crew are to be commended for presenting local audiences with such an enjoyable production. Bring a cushion (for the bleacher seats) or picnic blanket, kick back and enjoy.Much Ado About Nothing is on now through July 24. Tickets are available one hour before curtain and online. In the event of inclement weather, a decision will be made at 4pm each day. If there is heavy rain, and the forecast indicates that it is likely to continue for some time, the performance will move to Daylesford Theatre.lUseful website: www.bmds.bm.