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Much Ado About Nothing (BBC TV Shakespeare) Review

This play was a particular relief of your average Shakespeare play, in that it is not a deep philosophical piece of literature. I personally loved reading this play and it does have many interesting values and lessons that one could learn and apply. In several instances I found myself laughing out loud just reading the script. Over all I would say that this is yet another one of Shakespears timeless classics that can still very easily be applied in almost every persons life today. Shakespeare wrote this play, as I believe, to show people how stupid they are and the foolish things that they do when they are in love. I personally do not really enjoy the drama of a love story, but this is a whole different animal.The characters in the story are completely normal citizens of an almost care- free society, but, when love comes knocking at their door they transform into completely zaney lunatics. The characters are, however, people and react in different ways. No matter how they do react it is a far cry from what they normally would do. Indeed, this story shows someone to what great lengths they will go in the name of love. For instance, Benedict, one of the main characters, falls in love with the main female and all of a sudden becomes a quiet, softspoken gentleman, who now cares about his appearance. Whereas before he was an opinionated man, who used sarcasm to get his points across. The story does portray very well what love is, different types of love, and how it is reacted to. This play has taught me many things, especially about women, but most of all it has taught me that there are two very specific types of love and that a person should experience both. One type of love, presented by Beatrice and Benedict is the real heart felt one, where both people know and care for one another and the other was demonstrated by Hera and Claudio. This type is known as "puppy love." Each couple represents their type of love very well and has helped me to realize which sort of love that I have, and have had with other people. This book is well worth whatever they are asking for it. If you really apply yourself you can get alot out of this story. The storyline is very good and lets you feel that you are a part of the story, like you know something that the other characters do not know. It is so involved that I often wanted to strangle some of the characters and tell others some great secret. Then I felt like a retard and stopped myself. This is a very light read and though it is mildly difficult to understand it is easy to understand what point Shakespeare is trying to get across. This story is so good because it teaches so many lessons without having this heavy blanket of philosophy shrouded around it. I would recommend this play to anyone who just simply enjoys a good read. If by chance you read this review, then realize this, I am not exagerrating of making any of this stuff up. This is a really good story without the deep thoughts and questions of life. So, in conclusion, this is just one person talking, but READ THE PLAY! It is really good and worth it, but you do not have to take my word for it.

Much Ado About Nothing (BBC TV Shakespeare) Overview

Part of the "New Penguin Shakespeare" series, this book offers a complete edition of "Much Ado About Nothing". It has been prepared from the original texts and is accompanied by an introduction, a list of further reading, a full commentary, and a short account of the textual problems of the play.

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Customer Reviews

They never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them. - E. A Solinas - MD USA
A man and a woman meet. They outwardly seem to despise each other (or at least find each other annoying), but we know that deep down they're in love and just need a jolt to realize it.

That's one of the more popular romance tropes -- everybody from Jane Austen to anime has used it. But the original feisty Will They Or Won't They couple was Beatrice and Benedick in William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" -- and while the plot supposedly revolves around an evil plot to discredit Beatrice's cousin, it's more fun to watch the two B's slinging insults and falling in love.

Spanish prince Don Pedro has defeated his evil illegitimate brother Don John, and is coming to the estate of Leonato for a visit -- along with his entourage, his disgraced brother, and his officers Benedick and Claudio. Claudio soon falls in love with Leonato's daughter Hero, but Hero's cousin Beatrice has the opposite reaction -- "there is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her."

Soon Hero and Claudio are happily engaged, and Don Pedro decides to matchmake Beatrice and Benedick -- and after a tidy bit of manipulation, the acid-tongued pair fall madly in love. But Don John spins up a malicious deception that tears apart the love between Claudio and Hero, creates a rift between Leonato and Don Pedro, and leaves it doubtful that anyone will live happily ever after...

"Much Ado About Nothing" is one of Shakespeare's finest comedies, mainly because it often hangs off his clever wordplay and zinger-filled dialogue ("I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books." "No; and he were, I would burn my study"). There's even some hilarious scenes where Benedick bemoans the difficulty of writing rhyming poetry.

Technically the plot revolves around the impending wedding of Hero and Claudio, as well as Don John's attempts to derail the whole affair -- resulting on some painfully raw scenes (such as Beatrice freaking out after Hero's public disgrace), as well as some goofy ones... like any scene involving the absurd Dogberry. But Beatrice and Benedick are undeniably the centerpiece of the story, as well as the most likable characters.

Because they're so witty and prickly, Beatrice and Benedick are loads of fun -- they start off violently against getting married and content to just lob insults at each other. And even after they fall in love, Shakespeare keeps their wit intact ("Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably"). Don Pedro is a good supporting character, a wise and kind prince who enjoys meddling in other people's romantic affairs.

The downsides: we never really get a REASON for Don John to be such a jerk. And Claudio comes across as a puffed up adolescent with a crush, especially since he deliberately humiliates Hero in public to salvage his ego... and for some reason, she doesn't hate him for the maliciousness.

"Much Ado About Nothing" is one of Shakespeare's best comedies -- a tennis match of zingers and witticisms, wrapped around a solid plot about deception and lies.

Real Shakespeare - Editor, SFHR - San Francisco
Guides to the greatest Renaissance museum in Italy, the Uffizi, used to tell tourists gently, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is not the paintings that are on trial here."

Love Games - JMack - Chicago
Whenever reading Shakespeare, I am always in fear that I am missing even some small portion of the plot. Shakespeare tends to pack so many grains of information into his works, that it is easy to overlook some. While "Much Ado About Nothing" is commonly refered to as a comedy, I fail to find humor in the pain. The sharp edged tongues of Benedick and Beatrice often steal the show as other characters manipulate this pair that was apparently made for each other into a compromising position. Yet the central plot seems less humorous.

The story of Claudio and Hero seems much less easy to accept. A manipulative and vendictive Don John implies that Hero was unfaithful to Claudio in the days leading up to their wedding, causing Claudio to refuse Hero at the wedding ceremony. Hero disappears seemingly into death until Don John's guilty accomplice confesses.

The story itself does not seem unrealistic by today's standards, yet I felt as though something was missing from the plot. Known as one of Shakespeare's best comedies, I felt I missed some of the humor in its subtleness.

mrs.depp - Mrs. Depp -
Much Ado About Nothing was a very well written play. It was a much lighter reading than Antigone and I think I liked and understood it better too. It was still hard to read and understand but I think the movie and actually seeing it being acted out helped a ton. I really didn't understand a lot of what was going on in the garden scene when they are trying to get Beatrice and Benedick to think they both love each other. So I was a little bummed when our group chose that to do the skit. But then as you read and actually break down the words it was actually very easy and fun to figure out what it means.
I think Shakespeare's main point in writing was to show people how funny love is. He has done tons of serious works and I think this was a great piece that kind of gave you a breath of fresh air. I think that was one of the reasons for writing this. To give the people who were coming to see it something a little lighter. I think this because the play focused a ton on the comedy of love. How you can get to people who started out hating each other to like each other.
I surprised myself in this question. I came into this play thinking that I will not like and I would not understand it. Although one of those statements is true the other one was false. I loved this script. In the beginning I thought it could show me nothing about my life or teach me anything and I was completely wrong. From this play I learned to not judge a book (or play) by its cover. I mean this literally. I came into this with a bad attitude and I realized that instead of doing that I should of had a good attitude and I could have enjoyed it more. Also in Beatrice and Benedick's situation they thought they could never like each other and they ended up falling in love. Some of the people I thought I could never be friends with I am very close friends with now.
Another thing it taught me was to not believe everything I hear. When Claudio heard that Hero was having an affair with someone he got mad and disgraced her and everyone thought she was a horrible person. But she never did and she really loved Claudio. I am a very big gossiper and I now realize how much they can hurt people.
I would totally recommend this script to others. Although you may think you can't learn much from it you really can. I would suggest, though, watching the movie after you read each act. It makes them so much easier to understand. Without the movie I think I would completely be lost and not understand the book at all. Also I would go into reading the book with a good attitude thinking that this can help you because if you don't, like me, you will wind up more confused than ever.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 27, 2010 22:53:05

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Friday, August 27, 2010