Over the course of the weekend, nearly 1000 people watched the Piper Theater production of "Much Ado About Nothing" in JJ Byrne Park. Not only was it a fabulous and dynamic interpretation of Shakespeare’s great screwball comedy, but it was a historic event, too: the first play ever performed in that park.

Until this year, there were no cultural events in the park or at the Old Stone House.  But since Kim Maier took over as Executive Director of the Old Stone House, the house and the park are fast becoming a cultural center in Park Slope.

This production and Piper Theater’s residency at the Old Stone House is all part of summer event series that the Old Stone House is presenting, which includes movies on Tuesday nights, music on Thursdays, and a Shakespeare program for 52 neighborhood kids, which meets daily at the house and will result in a public performance next weekend.

"I hope you will  have the thrill of seeing the kids perform in their own productions of Midsummer Nights Dream: and Winter’s Tale. If ;make love not war’  is the rallying cry of Much Ado, Piper Theater’s mission is ‘make theater, forge community," writes Cecilia Rubino, the director of Piper’s Much Ado.

This is Piper Theater’s first summer in Brooklyn. But they’ve been around for a few years. The group was established in 2001 by John and Rachel McEneny to develop arts and culture in the City of Yonkers as a way to foster economic development and tourism. John is also the acclaimed drama teacher at Middle School 51, one block away from JJ Byrne Park, where he has directed dozens of circuses, playwrighting celebrations, and Shakespeare festivals.

The hallmark of the Piper Shakespeare style is energetic performances by actors with plenty of music, dance, stage acrobatics and circus arts. Shakespeare purists won’t feel slighted and kids can follow the narrative, even the language because the performers are so spirited and expressive.

Two of his MS 51 circus students displayed their juggling and fire eating skills in scenes of Much Ado.