Wichita State University put on a production of Beatrice and Benedict from October thirteenth to the sixteenth twenty sixteen directed by Carol Feiertag. The production was based on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and was performed as an opera. The opera was full of bright colors and elaborate sets to represent the time of the play. The overall production helped enhance features of the play making the experience more enjoyable for the audience. The set, comedic tones, and seeing the production gave me more clarity compared to reading the play, all helped make the play a more enjoyable experience for the audience and add to the text of the play.
The set that the Wichita State theatre constructed was beautiful and full of bright
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The overall production helped clarify the plot of the story for me and gave me more clarity for concepts I did not fully grasp. Certain scenes I did not understand as well while reading such as the scene when Benedict is hiding from Leonato and Pedro was confusing as I read it, but seeing it be performed helped me see how the scene worked and also the comedic elements in the scene. I also struggled to understand that Beatrice and Benedict’s friends were tricking them into liking one another. I struggled understanding the deception that takes place in the story such as the scene in which Don Pedro discussed tricking Hero into falling in love with Claudio in Act one, Scene one:
Tis once, thou lovest, And I will fit thee with the remedy. I know we shall have revelling to-night. I will assume thy part in some disguise And tell fair Hero I am Claudio, And in her bosom I’ll unclasp my heart And take her hearing prisoner with the force And strong encounter of my amorous tale (14).
However, this opera did not help clarify it as well for me and I still struggled to understand this scene. I was not expecting trickery in this play. Nevertheless, having a villain is necessary in every story, but the villain in the opera did not seem as prevalent to me. The overall performance gave me much more clarity on the on story compared to reading
sons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a sin to match a kindred"
Shakespeare’s use of metaphors throughout “Much Ado About Nothing” helped us better understand the depth to the characters. This was especially true for the hilarious couple Beatrice and Benedict. In the beginning, it seemed as though they would never get along. However, as they continue to bicker, the reader begins to pick up on the playful- flirty nature of the bickering. Shakespeare’s use of metaphors makes this particularly apparent, and quite entertaining. We can see that Beatrice and Benedict don’t really hate each other because they say things that are mean, but are also very hinting and flirtatious.
The production has a focal attention on the humor of Benedick and Beatrice. The performance has an uprising around the characters Claudio and Hero but with this film version, Benedick and Beatrice
In Shakespeare’s comedic play “Much Ado about Nothing” there are many unique characters but the character Beatrice sticks out for many reasons. Beatrice is not like the other characters in “Much Ado about Nothing.” She “rebels” against the idea of conformity and humility that was prevalent during that time period for women; therefore, she fit the archetype of
Hero does not get a chance to mull over the idea of Claudio as a husband. Even the audience knows little about her going into the now famous “shaming scene.” Details about Hero’s virtues and personality are purposely left out, partially to satisfy the dominant male perspective in the play, but also to give more clout to the heinous claim that Claudio makes during the wedding. The reactions of Hero’s father and others indicate that a woman’s virtues are only as good as a man says they are.
Much Ado About Nothing is one of William Shakespeare’s best comedies and love stories. What is not to like about a play that is hilarious, romantic, and has a happy ending? In this play the foremost and most intriguing character is Benedick, a man who is a devout bachelor and who does not believe he will ever find the perfect woman; --because perfect is exactly what he must have. This may seem to be a harsh and pessimistic outlook on life, but the way Shakespeare brings this character to life portrays Benedick as a funny and caring man who really is not that certain about what he wants for the future. Benedick’s counterpart in the play is Beatrice who is an independent woman
Shakespeare once said “the course of true love never did run smooth”. Shakespeare’s story, “Much Ado About Nothing”, is about two couples and their will to stay together through it all. One couple, Beatrice and Benedick, attempt to overcome the complications of admitting their love for one another. The other couple, Hero and Claudio, struggle to know what is true and false about rumors that spread around about their significant other. The book features pairs of unlikely friends based on their different traits like Hero and Beatrice as well as Claudio and Benedick. In “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, Hero is a foil to Beatrice because of their distinct personalities, contrasting opinions, and differentiating actions.
Much Ado About Nothing Movie Review Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Robert Sean Leonard, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Briers, Brian Blessed, Michael Keaton, Ben Elton Running Time: 1hr 5mins Introduction = == == ==
In Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare depicts both Benedick and Beatrice as characters with one major flaw: both are full of pride. With the use of the masquerade scene, as well as the orchard scenes, Shakespeare allows the characters to realize their awry characteristic. By realizing their erroneous pride, Benedick and Beatrice are able to correct this and not only become better citizens, but fall in love.
William Shakespeare wrote a play called “much ado about nothing” in 1598-599.This play is all about comedy, the main characters that make us laugh in this play is Beatrice and Benedict. Shakespeare used different aspects and elements to show the merry war between Beatrice and Benedict for example disguise. Shakespeare makes their personalities very different, Beatrice is witty, quick minded, while Benedict is strong minded and stubborn but they're both feisty.The merry war shows comedy, for example making beatrice and benedict quarrel all the time and then them using sassy and quick remarks to each other.
Shakespeare uses the literary device, motif with the image of the masked characters and with the masked language of Benedick and Beatrice. In each instance that a masked character or masked language is used, deception intensifies. In Act I, Scene 1, Claudio says about Hero, “That I love her, I feel” (Shakespeare 1.1.205). Bear in mind, Claudio just arrived in Messina and laid eyes on Hero for the first time. Thus, his declaration of love seems impulsive and uncertain. Claudio knows little about Hero, so his desire to have her must rest on her appearance alone. Still, Don Pedro offers to help unite Claudio with Hero. He initiates a matchmaking scheme. He says, “I will assume thy part in some disguise / And tell fair Hero I am
The play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare consists of many themes which grow out of the game of love'. The two main themes consist of perception and deception. Through the plot complications, character development and dramatic techniques these themes can be explored. In the play deception is shown on both good and evil sides, the game of love between Beatrice and Benedick and the Don John plot to split up Hero and Claudio. Perception is a theme used in most of Shakespeare's plays. Perceptive views by the characters help portray the game of love. Hero is perceived as dead which then Claudio is sorry and feels for her. Beatrice and Benedick's loved is clouded by each other's perceptions and arguments.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare "Much Ado About Nothing" in fact has a great deal to say about love and marriage. What is Shakespeare trying to tell us about relationships between men and women? Compare the play's treatment of love with that in "Silas Marner" In "Much Ado About Nothing" there are many different forms of love and relationships that range from youthful infatuation to parental love. Shakespeare makes many comments about men and women and shows the audience a variety of both romantic and platonic relationships.
around at least one or more of these themes, if not all at the same
In Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, written in the early 15th century, the relationships between Benedick and Beatrice and Hero and Claudio are the key to the play and create a lot of tension and comedy. The two relationships are interesting in different ways, and this essay will explore this in terms of the language used, the plot, characterisation and how the two relationships stand thematically.