Review by Joe Siegel

Burbage Theatre Company has opened their 2026-2027 season with Shakespeare’s classic comedy “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Under the direction of Trinity Rep. vet Stephen Thorne, who starred in 2025’s “Every Brilliant Thing,” the ensemble deliver vibrant performances.

Two relationships are at the center of the story.

Beatrice (Alison Russo) and Benedick (Jeff Church) engage in verbal battles but fall in love after their friends resort to trickery to bring them together.

Claudio (played with earnest sincerity by Chris DePina), a nobleman, becomes smitten with the lovely Hero (Tatiana Sullivan), the daughter of Leonato (Fred Wambolt). They plan to get married immediately.

Don John (a fiery Julia Curtin), the jealous sister of Don Pedro (David Sackal), schemes to drive Claudio and Hero apart.

Conrade (Jordan Smith) and Borachio (Omar Laguerre-Lewis) carry out Don John’s plan by making it appear Hero has been unfaithful to Claudio.

At Claudio and Hero’s wedding, things don’t go quite as planned.

The delight of this show is seeing how the characters react to the drama unfolding all around them. Rumors and speculation are used as tools to manipulate events. If this was one of Shakespeare’s tragedies, the consequences would prove to be fatal. Not here.

Church walks around the stage with a roguish charm and a maniacal gleam in his eyes. He also has a very funny bit of physical comedy when Benedick eavesdrops on his friends while hiding behind a bale of hay.

Russo, seen in last spring’s “Measure for Measure,” exhibits a firm resolve as Beatrice, a woman who is protective of Hero and willing to stand up to the men in her life.

Russo and Church have an appealing chemistry in their scenes together.

Thorne reimagines this material in unique ways. Characters use a huge blackboard to express their emotions.

In one scene, the cast all don funny glasses and dance around. The ending features Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” The song choice works quite well and compliments the production perfectly.

In the end, love really does conquer all.

Rating: three stars (out of four).

Much Ado About Nothing runs through October 11. Burbage Theatre Company. 59 Blackstone Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. Runtime is 2 hours, 15 minutes. For tickets, call 401-484-0385 or visit burbagetheatre.org.

Jeff Church and Alison Russo.

Alison Russo.