Hello, and welcome to Much Ado About Nothing!! Much Ado was written round about 1598 and is, unusually for Shakespeare, mostly written in prose, not verse. It is a comedy full of wit and witticisms. A play that could be set “anytime”, about people not places. It was originally titled “Beatrice and Benedict” but there is so much more happening in the play than the sparing of these two protagonists that it was renamed “Much Ado About Nothing”. Nothing – by this does Shakespeare mean the mask that we all hide behind or does he mean the emptiness of witty speech; all for effect and with little substance? These themes will be explored during rehearsal. Please contact me if you would like to be involved. Kind regards, |
Benedick: Young lord from Padua who thinks he hates Beatrice but really loves her.
Beatrice: Niece of the governor of Messina who thinks she hates Benedick but really loves him.
Leonato: Governor of Messina, uncle of Beatrice, and father of Hero.
Don Pedro: Prince of Arragon, recently victorious in a war against his brother, Don John.
Don John: Don Pedro's bastard brother, a jealous of Claudio.
Claudio: Young lord from Florence who falls in love with Hero, or her fortune.
Hero: Leonato's daughter, who falls in love with Claudio.
Margaret, Ursula: Hero's attendants.
Antonio: Leonato's brother.
Balthasar: Don Pedro's attendant.
Conrade, Borachio: No-good followers of Don John.
Friar Francis: Priest who helps Hero regain her reputation.
Dogberry: Constable of Messina.
Verges: A helper to Dogberry
Sexton: A helper to Dogberry and Verges
Boy: Serves Benedick
Minor Characters: Messengers, Watchmen, Attendants.
Modified - Wed 22 October, 2008