Go-Go’s ‘Much Ado’ Wants to Cut Loose

Charles Manson and William Shakespeare are seldom mentioned in the same sentence. But Theatre-a-Go-Go has a habit of confounding tradition.

The same pop-culture pranksters who brought us “Manson: The Musical” have now delivered a no-frills, ultra-low-budget version of “Much Ado About Nothing” at the St. Genesius Theatre in West Hollywood.

Shakespeare a la Go-Go is not as delightfully oxymoronic as one might hope. Directors Jon Kean and Mari Weiss (who play Benedick and Conrade, respectively) have restrained most impulses to camp up the original text, notwithstanding some amusing dance scenes using ‘50s pop staples. Michael Irpino earns hoots for a fey, bewigged turn as the villainous Don John, but the rest of the company, alas, acts not quite zany enough.

But at least this “Much Ado” never gets too stuffy. This is the kind of show actors put on for themselves late in the rehearsal process, after they’ve grown tired of reciting the same lines over and again and just want to cut loose.

* “Much Ado About Nothing,” St. Genesius Theatre, 1047 Havenhurst Ave., West Hollywood. Thursday, 8 p.m. $5. (310) 285-4646. Running time: 2 hours.