Much a do about Nothing has been running all Summer at the Globe Theatre, London from 22nd of April and runs until 23 of October. What better time in this hot weather to get yourself to this splendid outside theatre.
It’s April 1945, Northern Italy. Following years of war, Leonata (Katy Stephens) and her daughters host a welcome party at their palazzo to welcome the men who have returned from combat after their recent hard-fought victories.
While there are two central romantic relationships in Much A do About Nothing, this play begins where the men have already bonded in trust and friendship with their shared experience in military combat. They are heavily influenced and guided by their male friendships.
At the party, Claudio (Patrick Osborne) expresses his interest in the fair Hero (Nadi Kemp-Sayfi) while Benedict (Ralph Davis), a confirmed bachelor, mocks Claudio for his love of Hero, Leanata’s “short daughter”.
We are quickly to learn that Benedict has a soft spot for Beatrice (Lucy Phelps). They playfully insult each other. “I would my horse have the speed of your tongue” says Benedict to Beatrice.
The courtship of Hero is negotiated between Claudio, Don Pedro (Ferdy Roberts) and Leonata. Hero has no real involvement in this. As Claudio is shy and insecure when it comes to women, the charismatic and worldly Don Pedro elects to woo Hero on Claudio’s behalf.
However, seeing this, Don Pedro’s melancholy and sullen bastard brother Don John (Olivier Huband) has other ideas. He schemes to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio. He first convinces Claudio that Don Pedro intends to woo Hero for himself.
On seeing Don Pedro with Hero, the gullible youthful Claudio asserts “Tis certain so, the Prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent, for beauty is a witch.”
He will find out soon that his concerns are unfounded and Don Pedro has indeed been a good friend and wooed Hero for Claudio. Hero instantly falls for Claudio.
After this union between Claudio and Hero appears to be set, the different parties conspire to bring Beatrice and Benedict together, “some cupid kills with arrows some with traps“. This act brings a much lighter humour to the play. Everything looks at this point it will be happy ever after.
However, the determined jealous Don John has other ideas. He conspires with Borachio (Ciaran O’Brien) to court his lover Margaret (Rachel Hannah Clarke) Hero’s serving woman, in Hero’s name. On seeing this, Claudio and Don Pedro think Margaret is Hero and determine she is sleeping with Borachio.
The gullible innocent Claudio is taken in by Don John’s slander and he believes Hero has been unfaithful. On the wedding day, he humiliates and slut shames Hero. “Give not this rotten orange to your friend” he tells her mother. Hero is utterly humiliated.
Beatrice, who now realises she is in love with Benedict “I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest”, tells him to “kill Claudio” to avenge her cousin being slandered by Claudio …
Funny, smart and stylish, Much a do about nothing is a play for all ages and never gets old. The wonderful cast and crew bring new life to this well known Shakespearian comedy. The fabulous staging of the Globe Theatre is the perfect setting for this ageless tale of love, friendship, betrayal and drama.
Shakespeare’s Globe
