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Funk it Up About Nothin’
Created and Directed by GQ and JQ
Produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater
At Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier in
The Carl and Marilynn Thoma Theater Upstairs
Call 312-595-5600 Tickets $25 Wednesday-Thursday
$30 Friday- Sunday
Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.
Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Running Time is 65 Minutes
Through August 3, 2008
Attention: This play uses adult language and adult themes.
Sure it’s Fun, But is it Really Shakespeare?
I’m sure that thousands of teachers, parents and literature lovers have had the same wonderful idea of making Shakespeare fun, so that their children would be interested in it and possibly be inspired to read more. The Q Brothers’ production of “Funk it Up About Nothin’ ” is from the school of thought of the irresistibility of the themes and language of Shakespeare’s plays. This argues that Shakespeare’s themes are so universal, and his use of language so good, that all they need is to be interpreted into our modern day English and we can’t help but find them interesting. In theory, it’s a great idea (an idea that has the potential to be great or absolutely horrible). Watching the opening performance of “Funk it Up!” at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, I began to question the limits of how entertaining Shakespeare can actually be in this over-stimulated, computer generated era. More specifically, can Shakespeare be modernized to whatever extent the directors see fit and still be truly called Shakespeare?
“Funk It Up” is a both a treat and a feast for the eyes before the actors even enter the stage. As the audience enters and takes their seats, they are welcomed by a live DJ; who is situated up above the set, yet is clearly part of the show. Not only does she spin throughout the entirety of the time before the show, she also provides all the music for the rap performance of Shakespeare’s comedy “Much Ado About Nothing”, now titled “Funk it Up About Nothin’” (if you didn’t get that before). This simple act of showing the DJ and presenting her as an actor on the stage, and a part of the set, provides so much to the show. I found myself watching her at times rather than the actors, but she never serves as an obvious or annoying distraction. She could be hidden and ignored amongst the set, but she brings so much energy to the show I thought it would be a shame to not give her some well deserved attention at times as well.
This energy that is brought by the DJ is carried over by the actors to make one lively and non-stop, entertaining show. The set is decorated by strewn paint and bright colors. Made to look like a street front, with stoop included, the show has all the energy and raunchiness that one might imagine he would find in the street. The show is done in a creative and very well written rap, I was grateful that the writers did not just change Shakespeare’s original words into the lyrics, which ends up being very easy to understand and the plot and characters are very easy to follow. Even the older people in the crowd seemed to be able to follow the show. The show is very creative, well acted and well designed and is worth seeing as a work of art in itself. Does it stay true to its Shakespeare name though, and give us the same example in how to so magnificently use words and themes that our 10th grade teachers would get so excited over?
Although the show is well worth seeing, hilarious and one of the most energetic performances you will see this summer, it can’t be called Shakespeare. Both the language and the themes, although quite adapted, were done impressively and each had parts that were Shakespeare worthy. The theme of love, for instance, uses a perception of love that is so foreign to what we are familiar with today that one can’t help but consider it to be inspired by and compared to Shakespeare. The elements of dirtiness of the play and the words is mostly in Shakespeare’s own style. I use mostly, because at times it is overtly dirty and does not put the effort of using symbols or double meanings to get across the humor of the foul. Sometimes curse words are just said and sexual motions used and, while Shakespeare is known for having humor built into his plays to satisfy the lower classes, at these points the show steers away from being Shakespeare and turns into MTV. Not that there is anything wrong with MTV, but anyone who sees the play billed as Shakespeare and comes expecting a modern adaptation of the famous comedy could potentially be disappointed. There are points where the show becomes too energetic and one could be swept up in the energy and forget about any Shakespeare that was at one point there. This lack of restraint alone makes the show not Shakespeare. Upon sitting down and seeing the paint on the set, the colors and the DJ, the young man next to be asked his girlfriend, “What have you gotten me into?” There were many older people in the audience, and I think they thought that same thing throughout the whole show. This show pushes Shakespeare so much to its limits that it is no longer really Shakespeare at all. Don’t come expecting a hip, but true, interpretation of the bard. This show is a lot, but it definitely isn’t that. Although the show makes Navy Pier about 10 times more fun, and should be seen by any mature audience that likes to have a good time, it is not a family show and has an appropriate age range from about 18 to 40. I’m not saying that anyone is too old for the show, but it is so in your face and high energy that it would take a young at heart elderly person to be able to sit through the whole thing. It seems like the creators of the show really focused on the main themes of the original play and this makes the show a must see for the young, hip generation for which it is designed. Young adults really could gain a lot by seeing the theme of jealousy and its consequences played out as it is in this adaptation of the show. Take a date to see the show, but leave the kids and grandparents at home. Don’t come expecting Shakespeare, but to come with an open mind and ready for some in-your-face energy and an overall good time
Highly Recommended
Ryan McQuade
mcquadry@yahoo.com for comments
Date reviewed: June 30, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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