Getting funky with the Bard is sweet inspiration onstage
THEATER REVIEW | Q brothers wed high and low culture
Make no mistake about it: "Funk It Up About Nothin'," the new "ad-rap-tation" by the Q brothers (the same creative pairing that was behind that goofy hit "The Bomb-itty of Errors"), will never be a substitute for "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare's eternally sophisticated, verbally bristling comedy of morals, manners and reluctant romance. And with its raw, hip-hop vocabulary and playfully raunchy street-wise physicality, many parents might prefer to follow the Chicago Shakespeare Theater advisory that notes "this show is for mature audiences." (Of course "mature" varies widely.)
All that said, there is such a super-energized, linguistically ingenious, bristlingly funky spirit at work in this 80-minute production that "Funk It Up" should be downright irresistible for anyone interested in the intersection of high and low culture. And its cast of six actors -- many of whom are proven masters of the classical style -- are so physically and verbally agile, and so savvy in their ability to adapt to a whole new meter and method, that it's a pleasure just to watch them mix it up with such complete brilliance.
(Courtesy)
Of course Shakespeare was a crucial force in shaping the English language into a richer, more flexible, more fully modern mode of expression during the Elizabethan period. And while hip-hop will no doubt remain more subculture lingo than mainstream language, it has already proven its mettle as a theatrical tool in a wide range of productions.
The Chicago-bred Q brothers (adapters, directors and actors here) have taken Shakespeare's tale of two upscale Italian couples and put them instead in a cartoonish, neon-bright inner city setting (the work of designer Brian Sidney Bembridge) where rather than returning from war, the men have just gotten back from a rap contest, holding their trophy high. The self-important, afraid-of-commitment Benedick (played by JQ) continually spars with his inner-city queen Lady B, as in Beatrice (Ericka Ratcliff), the attitude-infused, burned-by-men sexpot who clearly is destined to be his mate. And Lady B's hilariously innocent, dim bulb of a cousin, Hero (Elizabeth Ledo), falls head over heels for her easily misled love, Claudio (Jackson Doran).
Adding to the hilarity are the rail thin GQ (as the scheming Don John, an aged father of the bride and Sheriff Dingleberry, whose name means something more than you might guess, and who is a twist on Shakespeare's Constable Dogberry); Postell Pringle (as both Benedick's pal and a very gay deputy), and Adrienne Sanchez, the female DJ with terrific turntable technique.
There is not a weak link in the cast, with the actors speaking and changing costumes at something approaching the speed of light. (The difficulty factor is intense here.) But it is the tiny, wide-eyed Ledo and the sassy, hands-off Ratcliff who will blow you away. Be prepared, as well, for one of the great, hilarious stage kisses, a lewd moment with an inflatable "ho" (as in whore), and, yes, even a double wedding.
STAGE NOTES:
HYPOCRITES ON THE MOVE FOR BIG NEW SEASON
Here's how the Hypocrites' 2008-09 season has taken shape, with four productions to be staged at three different venues as follows:
---- A return of this spring's megahit take on Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," with director David Cromer reprising his role as the Stage Manager (opening Sept. 25 at the Chopin Theatre Studio).
---- Director Sean Graney's production of "The Threepenny Opera," the landmark Brecht-Weill musical (opening Sept. 2 at the Steppenwolf Garage).
---- Graney's production of "The Hairy Ape," the Eugene O'Neill classic, to be seen as part of the Goodman Theatre's O'Neill in the 21st Century festival (opening in Feb. 2009).
---- Graney's production of "Oedipus Rex," a three-person promenade-style version of the ancient Greek classic (opening in June 2009 at the Chopin Theatre Studio).
For additional information, visit www.the-hypocrites.com.