Between the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter, the timing couldn't be more perfect to mount an all-black production of "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare's most forward-thinking play.

At the center of the popular comedy is a battle of the sexes, which pits the romantic duo of Benedick and Beatrice in a verbal war of words. And in this showdown, set in the present and featuring Danielle Brooks and Grantham Coleman, it is Ms. Brooks who gains the upper hand, tartly emphasizing the last syllable in her suitor’s name. Bene…you get it…

Kenny Leon directs with a knowing flair. Incorporating music and dance by the same duo behind Broadway’s electrifying “Choir Boy,” Much Ado pulses with a woke vibe. The setting, adorned with a banner that reads “Stacey Abrams 2020” makes it very clear that this is a production that demands relevance.

And if the staging is a little sloppy and the humor occasionally forced, the message is clear. Love inevitably conquers all, even when men are too blind or foolish to trust their own hearts. The entire company is most impressive. But it’s Brooks and Coleman capturing Shakespeare’s glorious wit and snappy banter who give us the best reason to make much ado about this latest Shakespeare in the Park.