Los Angeles Times - Recommended
"...An evening under the stars at the Theatricum Botanicum rarely disappoints. No exception to that general rule, "Much Ado About Nothing," playing in repertory in the theater's sylvan Topanga setting, is light of heart and deft of foot. Although they occasionally overdo the slapstick, co-directors Ellen Geer and Willow Geer have undoubtedly crafted a real crowd-pleaser. Even an owl on a nearby hillside hooted its approbation."
EyeSpyLA - Recommended
"...Our group, ages eleven to it's-impolite-to-state, all had a great time and could follow the story, including a teen who had never seen a Shakespeare play before. And yes, it's like old times to see the familiar players and magical setting."
LA Splash - Recommended
"...The dark, the bliss, the confusion, the hurt, the damage that gossip and jealousy in this play can do, are only the beginning of a wonderful evening under the stars. You may see a full moon peaking between the clouds and hear an owl chiming in with an actor."
StageHappenings.com - Recommended
"...If I must make any criticism it was in the final musical number of the show. Yes, the actors took it in good part and obviously knew it did not sound good, but I think the audience could have done without it. This is a minor quibble and I wholeheartedly recommend this production."
Hollywood Progressive - Recommended
"...This production, full of fripperies such as physical comedy and female friars, is sure to bring frequent smiles to the lips, but none in the Theatricum's packed seats seemed to relish the shenanigans more than the comedy's co-directors, Ellen and Willow Geer, who laughed heartily throughout the premiere."
Shakespeare in LA - Recommended
"...What a wonder is love in the hands of a writer like Shakespeare. Through comedy, tragedy, sonnet and poem, the way he captures lovers and their essence is pure magic. In Much Ado About Nothing, bringing that magic to life depends largely on its leading man and lady, and when a company gets the pairing right, the experience is so thoroughly engaging you never want it to end. That's the case with Theatricum Botanicum's current production, directed by Ellen Geer and Christopher W. Jones, who could not have cast two actors with more chemistry, or a better understanding of Beatrice and Benedick, than Susan Angelo and Robertson Dean."
Topanga Messenger - Recommended
"...This romantic comedy has all the usual suspects: true love, verbal barbs, a faked death, soldiers, weddings and a multitude of Shakespearean twists and turns. The Theatricum's "garden of theater" envelops this lively show within its walls, creating a new sense of reality with nature playing a primary role in this sparsely decorated stage. There is a fountain, a small table and pots of flowers randomly placed to create a simple courtyard, reception area or interior living space. Yet, it is the actors who are the focus with the barbs, the witticisms, the jokes."
