I read the book, watched the movie, and died of laughter. I was also anguished, became anxious, and was filled with emotions. This was all due to the intelligent and versatile pen of William Shakespeare. It was and always will be one of my favorite readings. It allows you to think that life can also be sweet and inevitably evil, with situations that leave you perplexed and with a dreamy ending.

As I adore this work, it is one to be remembered for many, many years. Shakespeare's writing has the power to transport us to different worlds and make us experience a wide range of emotions. His characters are so vivid and real that we can't help but become attached to them. Whether it's the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet or the complex character of Hamlet, Shakespeare's works continue to captivate audiences around the world.

I am constantly amazed by his ability to create such beautiful and profound stories. This particular work holds a special place in my heart, and I will continue to cherish it for a long time to come.

Benedick and Beatrice are two of the most beloved characters in Shakespeare's plays. Their relationship is a classic example of the "enemies to lovers" trope.

At the beginning of the play, Benedick and Beatrice are constantly bickering and trading insults. They seem to despise each other and make no secret of their feelings. However, as the story progresses, they begin to see each other in a different light.

Through a series of misunderstandings and manipulations by their friends, Benedick and Beatrice are led to believe that the other is in love with them. This causes them to reevaluate their feelings and they eventually realize that they have been in love all along.

Their journey from enemies to lovers is a charming and entertaining one, filled with wit, humor, and romance. It is a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a playwright that he was able to create such complex and believable characters and a relationship that has endured for centuries.

Here I am, reviewing this play exactly 420 years since it came out. It's what Beatrice and Benedick would've wanted.

The thing is, this play is what got me into Shakespeare. I saw the Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson movie when I was eight and loved it. But no adaptation has understood the characters' vibe as well as the David Tennant/Catherine Tate edition. This play has a central message: "respecting women is the only true way to be a romantic hero." It's also hysterically funny and contains Unbearable Tenderness™️.

Beatrice's lines are powerful. "O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the marketplace" is one of the most hardcore in any Shakespeare play. It's shockingly violent and said by a woman in 1598. Beatrice invented feminism and made me who I am today. She roasts everyone, especially Benedick, and it's wonderful.

The other plotline shows that misogyny is awful and ruins lives. The men assume their wives are unfaithful, and only Benedick defends Hero. Benedick's relevance as a romantic hero is proven by his belief in Hero and Beatrice. He steps away from the wrong done to women.

Now, let's talk about tenderness. Beatrice and Benedick's relationship is the ultimate romantic comedy. Their banter is hilarious, and when they fall in love, it's so tender. Lines like "And Benedick, love on; I will requite thee" and "I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?" are beautiful. They fall in love based on a practical joke but truly love and respect each other.

Yes, my love for this play is partly due to nostalgia, but it also has something important to say that's still relevant. The ending of the Claudio storyline is expected, but the play is still wonderfully romantic. Every time I think about it, I want to cry.

If you want to go feral for 3 hours, watch the David Tennant/Catherine Tate version on Youtube. It's accessible even without Shakespeare knowledge. Highlights include Benedick on a golf cart, their disguises at the party, Benedick's pirouettes, and the tender love confession scene. I love this play and it's my all-time favorite.

Willy, the Rom Com King

Willy is truly the Rom Com King. His movies have captured the hearts of audiences around the world. With his charming smile and natural acting skills, he brings the characters in rom coms to life.

His films are filled with hilarious moments, heartwarming scenes, and of course, the all-important love story. Whether it's a meet-cute in a coffee shop or a grand gesture of love at the end, Willy knows how to tug at the heartstrings of his viewers.

Not only does he excel in front of the camera, but he also has a great understanding of the genre behind the scenes. He works closely with the directors and writers to ensure that every script is perfect and every scene is executed flawlessly.

Thanks to his talent and hard work, Willy has become one of the most beloved actors in the rom com world. His movies are a must-see for anyone who loves a good love story and a good laugh.

Romeo and Juliet, move aside! Make way for Shakespeare's most entertaining and passionate couple!

I wasn't anticipating this to be as excellent as it ended up being. From what I've read of Shakespeare's work so far, he seems to be a better dramatist than a comedian, and his comedic plots often verge on the silly, which is, of course, the point in a comedy. However, regardless of one's thoughts on his humorous plays, one thing is undeniable: the man could write beautifully!

His command of language is astonishing. No wonder he added so many words to the dictionary! He plays with words and phrases with such ease, as if he were born to create language. His puns have layers of irony that initially escaped me, and I had to reread each scene and act twice, something I never do, just to fully understand everything.

The plot follows the classic Shakespearean storytelling style. Two handsome noblemen arrive in Messina with the entourage of Prince Pedro of Aragon to visit Leonato of Sicily. There, they fall in love with the governor's daughter and niece, Hero and Beatrice, respectively. While Claudio quickly admits his infatuation and desires to marry the beautiful Hero, his close friend Benedick is firmly against both love and marriage, despite the obvious sexual tension between him and Beatrice.

The people around them, tired of their constant barbed exchanges and recognizing the attraction they both deny, decide to take matters into their own hands. Led by the well-intentioned meddler Prince Pedro, they devise a plan to make Benedick and Beatrice admit their feelings.

However, disaster strikes when Don Juan, the rotten illegitimate brother of Prince Pedro, tells lies that cause the breakup of Hero and Claudio. Humiliated, Hero is left for dead, but the priest who was going to marry her comes up with a plan similar to the one in "Romeo and Juliet": fake the bride's death.

Thankfully, things don't go as horribly wrong as in Juliet's case, and Claudio eventually realizes his mistake and makes amends. In the midst of this tragicomic episode, Benedick finally says the forbidden words when he sees Beatrice crying her eyes out over her cousin's disgrace and offering to defend the lady's honor.

Before Benedick and Claudio can duel, things are resolved in typical Shakespearean fashion with the reappearance of the "dead" damsel. The two couples are married, and I assume they live happily ever after, bantering away.

I've always found it easy to understand Shakespeare's language, and this is my first time reading an annotated version of one of his plays. I confess that this added to the very sexy feel of the play for me. I hope others will also pick up such an edition to fully enjoy the delightful wordplay. Oh, and the inclusion of a kiss also surprised me greatly. I had a good laugh imagining how it would look in a period Elizabethan theatre, where women couldn't act and female roles had to be played by males. It's very humorous to think about!

After reading some less interesting pieces, this was the return to the Shakespeare I admire.

The themes explored are nothing new, they permeate the bard's comedies and reach the same targets. For me, the great asset of this piece lies in the extraordinary dialogues and the refinement of the rhetoric. Allied to his characteristic sense of humor, it is a flawless recipe that reminds us of the magnificence of the playwright.

Shakespeare's works have always had a special charm. His ability to create vivid characters and tell engaging stories is truly remarkable. In this particular piece, the dialogues are not only witty and entertaining but also carry deep meanings. The use of rhetoric adds a layer of sophistication and elegance to the play.

Moreover, the humor in Shakespeare's works is one of the things that makes them so enjoyable. It lightens the mood and makes the audience laugh while also making them think. This piece is no exception. The combination of great dialogues, refined rhetoric, and characteristic humor makes it a must-read for any Shakespeare lover.

In the play written in 1598/1599, the female character's words, "I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me," were revolutionary. Beatrice, the character who spoke these words, is a remarkable figure. She is smart, beautiful, witty, and entirely free. Her character is both thrilling and refreshing to read, especially considering the time period in which the play was written.

Critics agree that the main plot of the play, which centers around the love story of Hero and Claudio and the ploy of Don John, is overshadowed by the battle of wits between Beatrice and Benedick. The real antagonist of the play is deceit and the influence of society. The misogyny of the time leads Leonato to trust others over his own daughter, and even his grief is not entirely honest. Beatrice and Benedick deceive themselves about their feelings for each other, as they do not conform to the social norms dictating how people in love should act.

In contrast to Claudio and Hero, who are conventional in their love and jealousy, Beatrice and Benedick are unconventional. They know that the love perceived by society means nothing to them. They respect each other's wits and are always honest and direct. When they realize they love each other, they immediately confess. Their love is based on respect and trust, while Claudio and Hero's love imitates the Petrarchian archetype of the time.
Beatrice is truly the heart of the play. She inspires change in Benedick and evokes his wits. Without her, Benedick may never have considered listening to Hero's version of the story or changing his views on marriage and women. She is not a manic pixie dream girl but a real woman with a dominant personality. As Harold Bloom said, "Her wilderness is her freedom, and that sense of liberty, more even than her wit, captures the audience." The play is also genuinely funny, with humor coming from the battle of wits and puns. If you enjoy strong female characters, battles of wits, and verbal comedies, this play is definitely worth checking out. It's an enemies-to-lovers story that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

My game plan for revisiting Shakespeare was rather comprehensive. First, I decided to stream a video of a staging of the play. As I watched and listened, I read along with as much of the original text as was incorporated by the staging. This immersive experience allowed me to fully engage with the play. Later, I delved deeper by reading the entire play in the modern English version.

The staging I chose for "Much Ado About Nothing" was the 2013 film adapted and directed by Joss Whedon. Whedon brought a unique touch to the play. He preserved Shakespeare's text while inexplicably staging the action in present-day Santa Monica, California. His reason for this was that he'd always felt his own house would make a good film location. Instead of using big stars, the cast was made up of many of his friends. Alexis Denisof played Benedick, Amy Acker was Beatrice, Fran Kranz was Claudio, Jillian Morgese was Hero, Reed Diamond was Don Pedro, Clark Gregg was Leonato, and Nathan Fillion was Dogberry. Whedon has done a great service for English teachers as they can now screen a modern but faithful version of the play featuring cast members from "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" to introduce teens to Shakespeare.

It is believed that Shakespeare wrote "Much Ado About Nothing" in mid-to-late 1598 as a vehicle for Will Kempe, an actor who would leave the Bard's theater company (The Lord Chamberlain's Men) in early 1599. Kempe's role was to have been the bumbling constable Dogberry. The first recorded performance may have been in May 1613, when the play was staged twice for Princess Elizabeth's engagement and marriage. At the time of its public unveiling, the play was titled "Benedicke and Betteris".

The story takes place in the Sicilian city of Messina. Leonato, the governor, hosts Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, and his men who have returned from war. Leonato's heir is his daughter, Hero, and one of Don Pedro's men, the humble Claudio, wishes to marry her. However, there is no love lost between Hero's cousin Beatrice, a sharp-witted bachelorette, and Don Pedro's trusted aide Benedick, a devil-tongued bachelor. Both Benedick and Beatrice delight in making their distaste for each other public, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

Don Pedro's band includes his nefarious half-brother, the bastard Don John, who has failed in a plot to overthrow the prince. When Don John learns that Don Pedro plans to woo Hero on Claudio's behalf during a masked ball, he seeks to sabotage the union. Benedick uses the costume party for some fun, pretending to be a stranger and asking Beatrice how she feels about him. Meanwhile, Don John pretends to be Benedick and tells Claudio that Don Pedro is romancing Hero.

Don Pedro and Leonato's matchmaking efforts initially overcome Don John's ploy. With Claudio and Hero set to be wed, the noblemen turn their attention to ending the bachelorhood of Benedick and Beatrice. They use clever tactics to make Benedick and Beatrice believe that the other secretly loves them. However, Don John strikes back. He pays Borachio to seduce Margaret in Hero's bedroom, making Claudio and Don Pedro believe that Hero has been unfaithful. Claudio accuses his bride and calls off the ceremony, which also threatens Benedick and Beatrice's budding romance.

Thankfully, the dim-witted constable Dogberry and his watchmen overhear Borachio admit his subterfuge. The fate of every character now rests in the hands of Dogberry, a man who would make a 16th-century nobleman question his intelligence. "Much Ado About Nothing" is a wonderful blend of comedy and tragedy. The battle of wits between Benedick and Beatrice is some of the sharpest in Shakespeare. I found myself laughing out loud at the material written so long ago. However, the play takes a serious turn when Hero is shamed for her suspected sexual practices. Despite this, the play maintains a certain level of levity, especially with the modern version of the text highlighting the inanity of Dogberry's character. Overall, it is a simply wonderful play.

I had the most amazing experience today at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. I witnessed a truly brilliant version of a play. It was Mexican themed, which added a whole new and exciting dimension to it. There was non-stop dancing, the sound of gunshots that added an element of excitement, high racing emotions that kept the audience on the edge of their seats, and numerous moments of farcical humour that had everyone in stitches. All in all, it was a great production of what I consider an imperfect play.

If I’m ever critical of Shakespeare’s works, it’s only because I know just how excellent he can be. The Tempest is one of the finest pieces ever written in the English language. Similarly, Richard II is pure poetry, beautiful and powerful, yet it often falls flat on the stage. At least, I’ve never seen a really good live version of it. There’s just not much scope for spectacle in that play. But here’s the tricky thing about Shakespeare. Some of his plays are a joy to read, while others are not. Some are perfect for the stage but can be rather boring when read. And some manage to succeed in both realms, but not many. Much Ado About Nothing is a play that is truly meant to be performed. Just like Twelfth Night (and all the comedies), the real genius of the writing only shines through when it is seen in action.

Much Ado About Nothing has a relatively simple plot that revolves around two central characters, Beatrix and Benedict. Everyone else in the play is merely a plot device crafted by Shakespeare. Hero, Claudio, and Don Pedro, although they play major parts in the action, don’t really have much in the way of a distinct personality or inner-conflict. They are simply there to set up the two central characters against each other, and boy do they play off each other! A relationship built on mutual hate might sound like a strange concept, but it works perfectly here. Both Beatrix and Benedict have sworn never to marry, so when they finally encounter each other, they are annoyed and in complete denial about their own feelings.

It’s very easy for the audience to spot this, and watching the characters slowly come to realize it is truly wonderful. It leads to many brilliant comedy moments, which the version I watched was very quick to take advantage of. It was mischievous, witty, and just a whole lot of fun. The entire cast did an outstanding job. Again, this is a play that really needs to be seen. If you happen to be in London this summer, I highly recommend going to watch it. If not, you could always wait for the DVD to be released if you’re really eager to see it.

Finishing off my Shakespeare project with another favorite play. It's truly funny how a person can have so many favorites by this remarkable author, isn't it? Lol.

This play can be rather tricky to read. The main reason for this is that it should ideally be heard and seen. When a person listens and watches, they can keep better track of who is who compared to merely reading. Honestly, most of Shakespeare's works are like that, but for me, this one especially. So, I changed my procedure here. I read just the first two acts, then watched them. After that, I continued reading and then watched again. Finally, I completed the rest of the play this afternoon.

"MAAN" has all the themes I have come to expect from The Bard: misunderstanding, lack of communication, and trusting the wrong people when the one who should be trusted is the beloved. There is also humor, even silliness. And that is the other reason this play should be enjoyed as a performance. Each cast will bring something unique to the interpretation. I have seen three amazing versions of this play. The first was Kenneth Branagh's production with Denzel Washington as Don Pedro and Emma Thompson as Beatrice. It was my introduction to the play as I had not read it before seeing that movie.

A couple of years ago, I happened to catch a PBS Great Performances version from a Shakespeare In The Park festival. That was my first time seeing this as a true audience member rather than someone sitting in a movie house. Even though I was not actually there, it felt as if I was. I will never forget that eye-opening experience!

The version I watched for this reading was at a Texas Shakespeare Festival. I absolutely loved it. The actors who played Benedick and Beatrice were wonderful. There were many clever interpretations of various actions such as the dancing and the wonderful silliness of the Constable. At one point, when he was supposed to leap sitting onto a table, he got tangled in his sash and added a line 'I'm stuck!'. He very nearly covered up the incident too, except he couldn't keep himself from giggling with the audience.

I know I will be saving that link to watch again someday, and of course, will be reading right along with it! I have very much enjoyed my little Shakespeare Project. Best of all is knowing that I can read these plays over and over again without ever getting tired of the words. Even when I know what will happen, I feel it all more each and every time.

Anyone else think that Hero is way too forgiving? I mean, seriously, by the end of this play, the most that Claudio would be getting from me is a swift kick to the, um … knee.

I am probably the last person in the entire history of the world to figure this out. However, just in case there are others out there, it dawned on me yesterday that the title of this play had to be a rather cheeky pun. A mere five minutes on Google was sufficient to confirm my suspicions.

From this page:

In Shakespeare's time, "nothing" was a euphemism for a woman's private parts. This gave the title three distinct yet equally fitting meanings. The main conflict in the play revolves around the false insinuation that Hero loses her virginity to another man while engaged to Claudio. Thus, it is "Much Ado about Nothing" as nothing was truly happening, "Much Ado about Noting" as it pertains to the views the characters have of each other's moral character (how they "note" each other), and "Much Ado about Nothing" as it is concerned with Hero's own private parts/her virginity.

The Terry Pratchett quote at the top is also quite excellent:

Mind you, the Elizabethans had such an abundance of words for the female genitals that it is rather difficult to utter a sentence of modern English without accidentally mentioning at least three of them.

With the assistance of a good online Shakespearian dictionary, I have been conducting some experiments, and I'm afraid he is correct. I have made the decision to remain silent for the remainder of the morning, just to be on the safe side.

This discovery about the play's title has truly opened my eyes to the rich and complex language of Shakespeare. It makes me wonder how many other hidden meanings and puns are lurking within his works, waiting to be uncovered by eager scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Perhaps I will spend more time delving into the world of Shakespeare, armed with my trusty dictionary and a newfound appreciation for the subtleties of his language. Who knows what other treasures I might discover along the way?