“Much Ado About Nothing” in the park, ‘The Bullpen’ in prison

Rain, rain stay-away — so the stars (and entire Company) of “Much Ado About Nothing,” this summer’s first choice at the Public’s Annual open air “Shakespeare-in-the-Park” can shine, shine, shine. On a perfect last Friday evening we visited with the Bard’s bevy of acting, singing and dancing delights in a winning production of Shakespeare’s comedy that was perfection from Jack O’Brien’s-inspired direction to John Lee Beatty’s bucolic set of a Tuscan-hued villa in late 19th century Messina, with the grand house set among blooming orange groves and vegetables right for plucking. The latter become useful tools in the tale of those two destined partners, the comely sharp-tongued Beatrice (a brilliant turn by incandescent Lily Rabe) and her sometimes buffoon-like brat of a quick-witted “man’s man,” Benedick (the always wonderful Hamish Linklater) who indulges in the sparring of wits as some men might in the parry and thrust of boxing!
Among the many confusions that drive the fussing of “Much Ado About Nothing” are a misunderstood proposal of marriage to Beatrice by Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, (Brian Stokes Mitchell) a virile macho commander, fresh from a battle victory, now dome to conquer the hand of Beatrice, daughter of Villa owner Leanato (brilliant turn by John Glover, an actor of myriad talents-and master of them all!). Played by versatile Mitchell, Don Pedro’s arrival leads to one of the evening’s most enchanting moments: when “Stokes: in a duet later in the play, lingers on a final not of one of the evening’s songs with such exquisite voice and grace our audience came cheering to its feet!
To go through the convolution of plot twists that ensue as macho mischief and madcap mirth clash in the battle of wits between Beatrice and Benedick — with the introduction of a more venomous attack by villain Don John, Prince Don Pedros’ illegitimate brother, gives a very bad name to scheming. But eventually leads to the sorted-out happy ending a Shakespearean comedy demands.
The large cast of “Much Ado About Nothing” keeps our focus on the misunderstandings that, in comedy, lead to good things for pairings that oft-time take their time recognizing what’s wondrous in ‘this our mortal life:’ Like true love that conquers spiteful bantering and bickering — and an evening that when the starts take the stage to shine — the heavens don’t open to spoil our fun!
Delacorte Theater, Central Park at 81st entrance through July 6, (212) 539-8750 or publictheater.org for ticket information.

Searing, stunning and hilarious: ‘The Bullpen’
Trust me: Among the most memorable theater experiences you’re likely to ever encounter, former convict Joe Assadourian’s “The Bullpen,”— written and performed by this adrenalin driven huge talent is reason it immediately schedule a gripping hour in the throes of Joe’s unique experiences during his 12-year incarceration in various prisons for attempted murder.
On a bare stage at the Playroom Theater — an ironically named venue for a work steeped in the woes of prison life — our audience found ourselves on a wild trip into the vortex of the callous injustices of American’s prison system as Joe lived them. With the playwright’s observations and insights all the more indelibly captured in our minds by Joe’s talents both as a chronicler and mimic. So even as we laugh — a lot, it turns out — at the 18 characters whose weird eccentricities as he portrays his fellow convicts and the guards and judges who rule their narrow squalid lives — we come to understand the hell of his cell mates, mostly officious drug addicts, worn down by the tribulations and monotony of prison life; deserved as it may be. There’s no way to escape their frustration-and Joe’s own.
While an inmate at Otisville Correction Institution in upstate New York, Joe took a theater workshop with New York actor/director Richard Hoeler. “The Bullpen” was the result. It began at the prison with the actor playing guards and the real ones just outside the workshop door. On Joe’s release the play had been honed — and he now hopes to perform this version for inmates still at the facility. But right now the good news is that “The Bullpen” has just been extended to perform at the Playhouse through the summer —at least.
By the conclusion of the ex-convicts insights into both his “pen-mates” and the ugly system of prisoners endlessly waiting for a chance to confront sometimes rampant injustice in the judicial system — you’ll want to shake Joe Assadourian’s hand and thank him for his brilliantly delivered ‘sermon” from the innards of his former world’s hell on earth. That you become captive to his winning personality and wit is the giant plus of “The Bullpen.”
There’s got to be a brilliant future for this already prize-winning playwright — he could step onto a Broadway stage tomorrow and win equal kudos. Go see for yourself! (151 W. 46th St. Tickets at Theatermania.com or 866-811-4111. Performance schedule at (212) 967-8278.