As a lover of Shakespeare’s plays and the music of The Beatles, I knew I was in for a treat seeing ‘These Paper Bullets’at the Geffen Playhouse. But trust me, you do not need to be familiar with the plot of “Much Ado About Nothing,” as this modish rip-off of Shakespeare’s randy tale – with a serious backbeat – has been transformed to modish 1964 London, mimicking the time when four lads from Liverpool created a new world order where British mods and rockers ruled music and fashion, causing parents and adults to question “What is wrong with the youth of England?”
The play’s title refers to a line in Much Ado: “These paper bullets of the brain… shall they awe a bloke from his career of wants?” Here it is interpreted as can a man stay focused on his own desires over the machinations of others trying to pull him away from his career and what he really wants in love? Perhaps for a bit, but true love always wins in the end.
Even though updating Shakespearean verse into Liverpudlian may leave many totally wondering exactly what is being said, I encourage you to put your confusion aside and follow the antics of Bea and Ben (a fashion designer ala Mary Quaint and a member of The Quartos musicians), and Higgy and Claude (a model ala Twiggy and the cutest musician of The Quartos ala Paul McCartney) as they attempt to define how to admit and commit to love and not listen to those attempting to pull them apart.
While Bea and Ben (comedy pros Nicole Parker and Justin Kirk) reflect Beatrice and Benedict in Much Ado, the push me-pull you lovers who refuse to admit their true feelings for each other, Higgy and Claude (the adorable Ariana Venturi and handsome Damon Daunno) capture the ready-to-get-married lovers Hero and Claudio from Much Ado to a tee. Their antics during their rooftop celebratory engagement party are a highlight of the play as is Daunno’s lovely rendition of “Regretfully Yours” that Claude sings to lure Higgy out of a hotel bathroom, where she has locked herself away after he jilts her at the altar. The song evokes the sentiment of many familiar Beatles love songs and Daunno is sure to win the hearts of every woman in the audience!
One of the most interesting characters is Don Best, the antagonist trying to pull the lovers apart to gain his spot back in the group. Like Pete Best who was let go from the Beatles just before they hit it big, Don Best (ala Don Juan from Much Ado) is on a mission to re-gain his rightful place by any means necessary. Adam O’Byrne certainly lets us see what may have been going on in poor Pete Best’s mind when superstar fame and fortune was ripped out from under him.
Everything works out happily in the end as this is based on a Shakespearean comedy, but of course along the way we get to enjoy many mix-ups, mishaps, and much merriment! With songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day, the flavor of the Beatles early music will certainly cause many to want to get up and dance. Playwright Rollin Jones throws in many Beatles references often said with a wink and a nod to the audience, encouraging groans and chuckles of comprehension from those of us into everything to do with the Beatles.
Under Jackson Gay’s direction, the entire ensemble has a blast onstage, sharing the enthusiasm of the time as well as displaying the outlandish clothing of the time thanks to costume designer Jessica Ford.
‘These Paper Bullets’ continues at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood through October 15. Tickets are $51 to $73 and going fast. Order yours by specific performance date and time at www.geffenplayhouse.com
