Much Ado About Nothing

A Brief Overview

The FactsLocation: Messina, SicilyPopulation: Very smallGovernor: LeonatoDate written: 1598-1599Genre: Romantic comedyMood: Light and silly

Don Pedro, prince of Aragon, leads the soldiers of Messina back from a victorious battle and is welcomed by Leonato, governor of Messina.

Don Pedro has recently rekindled his relationship with his illegitimate brother, Don John, who is reminiscent of

Oscar the Grouch.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Gov. Leonato

Benedick, a soldier, reunites with his verbal sparring partner, Gov. Leonato’s niece, Beatrice. Benedick and Beatrice pummel each other with insults. Beatrice thinks men are idiots and Benedick swears to remain a bachelor all his life.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Gov. Leonato Beatrice (niece)

Benedick

Another soldier, young Claudio, is in love with Gov. Leonato’s daughter, Hero. He’s a wimp though, and Don Pedro offers to pretend to be Claudio and sweet talk Hero for him at a costume party.

Don John gets word of this and then tells Claudio that Don Pedro plans to woo Hero for himself. It works out though, and Hero and Claudio plan to get married in a week.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Gov. Leonato Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)

<3

Claudio Benedick

Prince Pedro decides to try to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love. After spreading rumors that the two overhear, he succeeds.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Gov. Leonato Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)

<3 <3

Claudio Benedick

Don John decides to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding just for kicks. His buddy, Borachio, is “seeing” Hero’s servant, Margaret, who happens to look a lot like Hero.

Don Pedro &

Claudio see Borachio

with Margaret and Don

John makes them

believe it was Hero.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Borachio + Margaret ?

Gov. Leonato Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)

<3 <3

Claudio Benedick

At the wedding Claudio accuses Hero of cheating on him and storms off. Hero’s family decides to pretend that she died suddenly in hopes that they might buy time to figure out what happened.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Borachio + Margaret ?

Gov. Leonato Hero (daughter) X Beatrice (niece)

<3 <3

Claudio Benedick

Luckily, Borachio brags to Conrad about what he did and is arrested by the night watchmen, headed by Dogberry and his wingman, Verges. Everyone else finds out the truth but they leave Claudio in the dark to make him feel extra guilty for Hero’s death.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Borachio + Margaret ?

Conrad

Gov. Leonato Hero (daughter) Beatrice (neice)

<3 <3

Claudio Benedick

Dogberry

Verges

Night Watchmen

Gov. Leonato tells Claudio he must marry his brother Leonato’s “daughter” but she is revealed to be Hero. Benedick & Beatrice decide to get married, too.

The End.

Don Pedro

(brothers)

Don John

Borachio + Margaret ?

Conrad

Gov. Leonato Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)

(brothers) <3 <3 <3

Antonio Claudio Benedick

Dogberry

Verges

Night Watchmen