The Illinois State University School of Theatre paid homage to The Bard with a delightful, "free will" presentation of "Much Ado About Nothing," this week. 

Arguably Shakespeare's best comedy, "Much Ado" is a Sicilian soap opera, complete with intrigue, mistaken identity and the requisite evil doer.

Governor Leonato welcomes to his home Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, and his companions Claudio and Benedick. Immediately, Claudio falls under the spell of Leonato's daughter Hero, while Benedick spars with her headstrong cousin Beatrice.

As romance blooms for each couple, Don John, Don Pedro's bitter half-brother, plots to prevent happy endings. Fueled by his envy of Claudio, Don John sets things in motion that will destroy his future with Hero. That is, if he gets away with it.

This streamlined production utilized very simple packaging to focus the energy on the language and intent of the author. The result was a splendid, accessible evening of Shakespeare that was enthusiastically embraced by the capacity crowd, which leapt to its feet at the end of the three-hour performance, and not just to stretch.

Displaying a comfortable relationship with the material, this talented young cast is to be commended for its dedication and effort, most notably Jackie Trabilsy and Mickey O'Sullivan as Beatrice and Benedick, Nick Dargis and Claire Small as Claudio and Hero, Jeff Kurysz as Don Pedro and Mitch Conti as Leonato.

Patricia Stiller is a freelance writer who reviews plays for The Pantagraph.

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At a glance

Title: "Much Ado About Nothing" by William Shakespeare

Venue: Illinois State University's Westhoff Theatre

Cost: General admission $5

Running time: 3 hours

Performance dates: Nov. 13-14 at 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. (SOLD OUT)