For the second show of the 2010 summer tourning season we turned to one of Shakespeare's best known shows, the battle of the sexes romp - Much Ado About Nothing. The story follows two parallel couples that of Claudio, a young bashful nobelman in love with Hero, the no so bashful daughter of the governor of Messia, Sicily and her cousin, the outspoken Beatrice and Claudio's best friend and equally outspoken Benedick. Claudio and Hero want to get married and Beatrice and Benedick DO NOT. The script hints that Benedick and Beatrice one had a relationship that went sour and now the two shower each other with jabbing insults, at once funny and at times getting old real fast. As Claudio and Hero get together, Don Pedro, Benedick and Claudio, best friend and commanding officer decides to try to get B & B together. All the while, Don Pedro's half brother Don John attempts to disrupt all the matchmaking. Set in early 19th century Sicily, our prodution explored the colorful and playful as well as some of the darker elelments.
In Messina, the governor Leonato, his daughter Hero, and her cousin Beatrice (Antonio's daughter) learn from a messenger that Don Pedro has won victory in a battle and is returning home. He arrives with Claudio, Benedick, and Pedro's bastard brother, Don John. Claudio falls in love with Hero at first sight. Benedick and Beatrice chide one another and trade witticisms. In private, Claudio tells Benedick of his love, but Benedick only teases him. Don Pedro, however, vows to help Claudio by disguising himself as Claudio and making advances to Hero. Leonato's brother Antonio overhears Don Pedro and Claudio's conversation, but believes Don Pedro is in love with Hero, rather than Claudio. Informing Leonato of this, both rejoice at prince Don Pedro's supposed intentions and plan to tell Hero. Don John's servant Conrade informs Don John of Claudio and Pedro's plans to woo Hero for Claudio, but John, who enjoys being grouchy and spreading gloom, plans to attempt to foil the plans.
At dinner, while discussing husbands, Beatrice vows to never marry, echoing Benedick's earlier vow. The men arrive in masks: Don Pedro and Hero dance; Benedick and Beatrice dance, and she makes fun of Benedick in general, possibly not knowing she is in fact dancing with him. Don John appears to Claudio, who identifies himself as Benedick, even though Don John knows he's Claudio. Don John tells him Don Pedro is actually in love with Hero, causing Claudio to become depressed. Benedick carries the ruse further, depressing him more. To his relief, though, Don Pedro unites Hero and Claudio in future marriage. Further, Don Pedro plans to convince Beatrice and Benedick to marry one another, even though both has vowed to never marry. Soon, Don John learns of Claudio's engagement to Hero. Still hoping to foil their marriage, he and his servant Borachio plan to brand Hero as a prostitute and thus compromise the marriage. In the orchard/garden, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio discuss Beatrice's "love" for Benedick. Although Benedick is hiding, they know he is there and lead him to believe she loves him; Benedick takes the bait.
Synopsis Continued
Similarly, Hero and her servant Ursula Discuss how Benedick is "in love" with Beatrice, while Beatrice herself hides in the trees and listens; she too takes the bait. Separately, Don Pedro and Claudio tease Benedick for being quiet. Don John appears and tells Pedro and Claudio that Hero is a whore/prostitute and will give proof of it the evening before the wedding. At nightfall, Dogberry and Verges instruct the night watch to watch over the city. In hiding, they hear Borachio (drunk) tell Conrade how he heath let Margaret woo him from Hero's bedroom, and thus deceive Don Pedro and Claudio into believing Hero is a whore. The next day, at the wedding, Claudio plans to denounce Hero and will not marry her. The watch arrests Borachio and Conrade, then Dogberry and Verges come to Leonato to tell him of the arrest, though he impatiently shrugs them off.
At the wedding, Claudio and Don Pedro accuse Hero of being a whore. Leonato vows to determine if the accusations are true. Further, the Friar suggest they pretend that Hero has died from the accusation, so that if a lie is being propagated, the source may admit the lie out of remorse. Privately, Benedick and Beatrice profess their love for one another. She asks him to prove his love by killing Claudio for wronging Hero. In prison, Dogberry interrogates Borachio and Conrade; the Sexton (recorder) plans to tell Leonato of their crimes.
In a courtyard, Benedick charges Claudio to a duel. Before this can occur, Dogberry brings Borachio who admits of his wrongdoings to slander Hero. Leonato, still dissembling that Hero is dead, instructs Claudio to come to his house in the morning, so that he can marry a "cousin" of Hero, who is nearly identical to her (and actually is her). Beatrice and Benedick continue to fall in love. At the tomb, Claudio delivers and epitaph to Hero. Then, in the morning, Benedick asks Leonato for Beatrice's hand in marriage. Further, Hero and Claudio are again engaged to be married. Lastly, it is reported that Don John has been arrested for his deceit and will be punished.
Leonato (Tox Cox), the governor recives word from Balthazar (Mary Regan, right) that Don Pedro and his armies have defeated his brother Don John and are returning to town that night. Beatrice (Noelle Fair) inquires if Signor Benedick is among the returning army. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Beatrice (Noelle Fair) playfully jabs at Benedick's expense asking if he is now in the company of a "new sword brother". Balthazar reveals that he is in the company of the visiting Count Claudio who Hero (Monica O'Malley) likes. Above, Beatrice consoles her cousin that she will have to deal with Benedick when talking with Claudio. Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ
Don Pedero (Woody Gaul) and his soldiers Benedick (Jon Ciccarelli) and Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) arrive to greet Leonato (Tom Cox). Benedick joins in on the Duke's discussion but is cut off by Beatrice (Noelle Fair). After some perky insults, Benedick admits a truce to the banter. Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ
Benedick (Jon Ciccarelli) is dumbfouned yet again that his best friend Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) announces that he is in love with Hero. Here is he chews out Claudio for wishing to become "a married man"
Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ
A defeated Don John (Shawn Madsen) laments that the happy goings on of his brother Don Pedro and his friend are makin him sick. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Borachio (James Pravasilis), one of Don John's (Shawn Madsen) lieutenants, arrives to tell him that Claudio is intertested in marrying Hero. This renews Don John's spirit as he sees this as an opportunity to start some trouble by telliing the impressionable Claudio that Hero has been unfaithful to him.Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ
Leonato (Tom Cox0 instructs his daughter Hero (Monica O'Malley) to pay close attention to Don Pedro for a possible pairing off. Beatrice (Noelle Fair) ever suspicious of marriage talk instructs her cousin on the ways that men speak to women, much to the chagrin of Leonato. Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ
Don Pedro (Woody Gaul) asks to speak with Hero (Monica O'Malley) looking to woo her for his friend Claudio. His brother Don John (Shawn Madsen) notices this is the opportunity to plant the doubt in Claudio's mind that Hero is cheating on him with Don Pedro.
Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
During one of the party's dances, Benedick (Jon Ciccarelli) tells Beatrice that someone has been spreading rumors that she's not as smart as everyone thinks she is. Beatrice knowing that this is Benedick instead turns it around on him and says that everone in his regiment thinks he's an idiot. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Claudio is convinced that Hero and Don Pedro are not having an affair and a marriage date is set. Boracchio (James Pravasilis) hatches a back up plan with his sometime love Margaret (Claudia Casamassimo). Don John will pull his brother and Claudio aside to Hero's window to witness Borachio making love to the person who they think is Hero but really is Margaret. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Inspired by the pairing of Claudio and Hero, Don Pedro (Woody Gaul) decides he will get the warring Benedick and Beatrice together saying they are actually in love with each other. Above he convinces both Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) and Leonato (Tom Cox) to be his accomplices.
Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Benedick (Jon Ciccarell) "overhears" Don Pedro (Woody Gaul), Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) and Leonato (Tom Cox) speak grandiloquently about how much Beatrice is in love with him.
Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Hero (Monica O'Malley) and Margaret (Claudia Casamassimo) play their part in convincing an overhearing Beatrice that Benedick is majorly in love with her. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Beatrice (Noelle Fair) buys the conversation hook, line and sinker and relishes in the fact that Benedick is in love with her. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Constable Dogberry (Tony White) and his associate Verges instruct the watch to make no noise and sleep soundly as they try to police the area. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Dogberry (Tony White) and his associate Verges recount the good qualities of a sound watch, attenttiveness, quiet and detail. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
After his encoutner with Margaret and convincing Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero cheated with him, Boracchio (James Pravasilis) celebrates with Conrad (Juius Lemar). Here the drunk pari cause a major ruckus and get arrested by the watch. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
At the wedding of Claudio and Hero, Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) denounces Hero (Monica O'Malley) as a strumpet before her father Leonato (Tom Cox) and the whole congregation. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Leonato (Tom Cox) rails against his daughter Hero (Monica O'Malley) for her supposed indiscretion. Beatrice (Noelle Fair) comes to her cousin's aid not believeing the slander. The Friar (Mary Regan) doesn't believe this either and thinks someone has lied to Claudio and Don Pedro. The Friar instructs Leonato that Claudio must lament the slander he has done to Hero. To do this, the Friar instructs to announce that Hero has died and this will cause Claudio to feel the full impact of what he has done. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
After much back and forth description, Constable Dogberry (Tony White) brings Boracchio and Conrad before the Duke stating that they confessed to having duped Don Pedro (Woody Gaul) and Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) at the behest of Don John. Hero was innocent and now she is dead. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
Claudio agress to marry a supposed cousin of Hero's and at this new wedding, Hero reveals herself. This joyous reunion is followed by the truth of Benedick and Beatrice love matching coming out. Both couples pair off and get married. Boracchio is pardoned and gets togethe with a slightly angry Margaret. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
