Shakespearean comedy rocks my socks. Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, and Denzel Washington rock my socks, as well. And masquerades held at Italian villas totally rock my socks. So, naturally, when the fabulous Ms Gibson played the 1993 Much Ado About Nothing in class, there was much sock rockage.

Kat had been telling me to see it for nigh on a year, but we all know how well that usually works. But between the two of them, I eventually saw it and loved it every bit as much as Midsummer. Well, maybe not EVERY bit. I'm still not sure if I have a favourite.

Much Ado is a play with a painfully absurd plot, but is saved by the verbal banter between two of my favourite literary characters of all time. See, basically, there's this guy, Claudio, who very much wants to marry this girl, Hero. So, after a silly and kind of involved scheme is played out, they get engaged. But, the prince's illegitimate brother, Don John, is...well...the b-word both literally and figuratively, and he takes it upon himself to convince Claudio that Hero has been...less than honest about her state of maidenhood.
(Please bear in mind that this is a comedy.)

Stupid Claudio decides to wait till the wedding to confront Hero about this, has a magnificent row with her in front of EVERYONE, and storms off after she faints dead away. When she comes around, her father and the priest decide that it would be fun to pretend that she's dead in order to make Claudio repentant. Etc, etc, more absurdity abounds. And as we saw in Midsummer, young lovers are quite stupid.

Meanwhile, Hero's cousin, Beatrice, and Claudio's best friend, Benedick, are former lovers who HATE each other and have boasted all over creation about having no intentions to marry anyone ever. These two do NOT like each other. I mean, they really can't stand the sight of one another. And there're some truly hilarious banter between them. If you liked the insult slinging in Midsummer, you'll love this. SO, the ever-meddling prince, Don Pedro, gets to thinking, wouldn't it be fun to trick them into falling in love?! So the entire household gets into it. And much hilarity ensues.

I go back and forth between being embarrassed at how weak-willed Bea and Ben are and absolutely adoring them both for being so...so... Let's face it. They're me. And if I'm not mistaken, they're one or two other people I know, as well. Am I right? Dear William really knew how to write a love story for the cynical biznatch.

Now, if I can just get my hands on a copy of Twelfth Night...

”Examine your conscience. And so I leave you.”
Created July 22, 2004.