Much ado about damn near everything

Big Idea Theatre’s final show of the season is a rousing, Jazz Age version of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. On the plus side, a fantastic Benedick (Kirk Blackinton) steals the comedic thunder with every gesture, and the witty Beatrice (Liz Tachella-Bowman) is more than his match—these two have chemistry. On the down side, poor Dogberry the constable (Jes Gonzales) doesn’t shine as much as he would if he could be clearly heard—his mangled tongue gets lost. Claudio (Brian Harrower) is properly hotheaded and Hero (Heather Judkins) is thoroughly nice. Harrower’s set design is stunning and works extremely well. And of course, the lovers marry and the bad guys come to naught in this well-timed and tightly paced two-hour version of the classic, directed by Katie Chapman.

Much Ado About Nothing, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday; $12-$15. Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Boulevard; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.com. Through December 4.