The first time I read a Shakespeare play was in 7th grade. It was Romeo and Juliet, and my school was showing a Dr. Seuss version of it. I then began reading at least one Shakespeare play each year the moment I entered 9th grade.
Despite how many plays Shakespeare wrote, the only ones I have covered in depth are Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth. So, when it came time to choose a play for the reading challenge category “A Shakespeare Play,” I wanted to choose one I wouldn’t typically teach in school.
My decision was made when I realized that I could watch the Shakespeare in the Park version of Much Ado About Nothing through PBS.
Going into this play, I didn’t have any high expectations because I didn’t know much about it. All I knew was that it was a famous comedy of errors. However, after reading the first encounter between Benedick and Beatrice, I was instantly intrigued. The dynamic between the two and the barbs they exchange made me laugh constantly.
Unfortunately, one of the downsides to the play was the main conflict relying on Claudio believing Hero to be unfaithful.
If he truly loved her, he wouldn’t have easily believed one of the weakest examples of deception. The source of information was unreliable and what he saw and heard couldn’t be properly matched up with Hero.
Yet, it worked. This was extremely annoying. Luckily, it didn’t last long enough for it to ruin the rest of the play.
Despite that major plot point, it was a quick read, and there was enough humor to keep me entertained. After viewing the recorded production, I will write a comparison piece to see what was done well between the two.
Overall, I gave this play a 4/5 stars.
Luna's Literary Corner 