Enter Leonato (Governor of Messina), Hero (his Daughter), and Beatrice (his Niece), with a Messenger.
An edition of Much Ado About Nothing
(1600)
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing was probably written about 1598 and first published in the First Folio of 1623.
In one of his darker comedies, Shakespeare explores the themes of love, fidelity, innuendo and betrayal. The plays opens in a frolic of merriment, but the mood darkens with the entrance of sinister Don John, one of the most unrelievedly villainous characters in the Shakesperean canon. His machinations to wreck the marriage of Claudio and Hero are eventually exposed by the inadvertent arrival of the sententious Constable Dogberry, but not before significant damage has been done to the idyllic relationship between the young lovers. As a counterpoint to the adolescent passion of Claudio and Hero, Shakespeare adds a subplot featuring the rather cynical courtship ritual played out by Beatrice and Benedick.
Cast
Leonato - Noel Badrian
Hero - Becca Maggie
Beatrice - Michele Eaton
Leonato's Brother/First Watchman - Joseph Tabler
Margaret - Charlotte Duckett
Ursula/Boy - Maureen Boutilier
Don Pedro (Prince) - Jeff Moon
Count Claudio - David Pricket
Signior Benedick- Brett Downey
Messenger/Balthasar/Second Watchman/Sexton/Lord - Phil Benson
Signior Antonio/Friar/First Lord - Denis Daly
Don John - Andrew Coleman
Borachio - John Burlinson
Conrade - Peter Tucker
Dogberry - Bob Neufeld
Verges - Marty Kris
George Seacoal - Norman Elfer
Stage directions read by Alan Weyman
Audio edited by Denis Daly.
Cover design by Denis Daly
Music
Act 5
Excerpts from Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No.1 by Ottorino Respighi
Performed by United State Marine Band
Song - Act 5 Scene 3
Pardon, goddess of the night
Sung by Leanne Yau
The script for this recording was kindly provided by Folger Digital Texts.
This recording may be freely downloaded and distributed, as long as the Online Stage is credited as the author. It may not be used for commercial purposes or distributed in an edited or remixed form.
The Online Stage is collective of narrators and actors who have come together to present productions of classic dramatic works in audio format.
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Previews available in: English Finnish French
Subjects
mistaken identities, performing arts, comedy, Drama, Conspiracies, Rejection (Psychology), Courtship, Juvenile drama, Criticism and interpretation, Quartos, Plays, English drama, Shakespeare, William. Much ado about nothing, Textual Criticism, Specimens, Fiction, Classic Literature, open_syllabus_project, History and criticism, English drama (Comedy), Dictionaries, English language, French, Juvenile literature, Much ado about nothing (Shakespeare, William), Shakespeare, william, 1564-1616, much ado about nothing, British and irish drama (dramatic works by one author), English literature, study and teaching, Shakespeare, william, 1564-1616, juvenile literature, Drama (dramatic works by one author), English literature, Drama, collections, Shakespeare, william, 1564-1616, dramatic production, Bibliography, Miniature books, Messina (Italy), Problems, exercises, Mistaken identity, Children's plays, English, Early modern and Elizabethan, Tragedies, Beatrice (Fictitious character : Shakespeare), Benedick (Fictitious character : Shakespeare), Man-woman relationships, Marriage, Drehbuch, Much ado about nothing, Political crimes and offenses, Comedies, Humorous plays, Shakespeare, william, 1564-1616, study and teaching, Fiction, science fiction, general, English drama, history and criticism, Shakespeare, william, 1564-1616, adaptations, Fiction, general, Dramatic productionPeople
Don Pedro, Don John, Claudio, Benedick, Leonato, Antonio, Balthasar, Borachio, Conrade, Friar Francis, Dogberry, Verges, A Sexton, A Boy, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, Ursula, Messengers, Watch, Attendants, William Shakespeare (1564-1616)Places
Italy, Messina, Messina (Italy)Showing 20 featured editions. View all 397 editions?
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Much Ado About Nothing : Revised Edition: Revised Edition
Jan 28, 2016, The Arden Shakespeare
paperback
1472520297 9781472520296
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Much Ado About Nothing
1999 June, Project Gutenberg, in cooperation with World Library, Inc
Epub
in English
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Much ado about nothing
1970?, Washington Square Press, Pocket Books (Mm)
in English
0671508148 9780671508142
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Book Details
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Work Description
Shakespeare's comedy play Much Ado About Nothing pivots around the impediments to love for young betrothed Hero and Claudio when Hero is falsely accused of infidelity and the "lover's trap" set for the arrogant and assured Benedick who has sworn of marriage and his gentle adversary Beatrice. The merry war between Benedick and Beatrice with the promptings of their friends soon dissolves into farcical love, while Hero's supposed infidelity is shown to be little more than "much ado about nothing".
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- Created December 10, 2018
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| December 10, 2018 | Edited by Lisa | Added edition. |
| December 10, 2018 | Edited by Lisa | Added new cover |
| December 10, 2018 | Created by Lisa | Added new book. |