“Much Ado about Nothing focuses on two love affairs, the rivalrynbetween the reluctant Beatrice and the confirmed bachelor Benedick, and thenmore serious courtship between Hero and Claudio. The former is one of thenwittiest romantic conflicts in dramatic literature; the latter narrowly avoidsncatastrophe by means of a necessary, if contrived, manipulation of the plot tonachieve a happy ending.”

“The play takes an ancient them—that of a woman falsely accused of unfaithfulness—to brilliant comedic heights. In this play, Shakespeare eschewed devices of obvious magic or disguise of sex, which he employed in other comedies; the wit and ambiguity of the dialogue and the exquisite pacing of the action sustain the play, which remains popular in repertory.”

“The influence of Beatrice and Benedick was felt in the Restoration comedy of manners, whose competitive loving couples similarly disguise their true affection by verbal combat.”

“Expertly performed by a full cast of seasoned British film and stage actors. Saskia Reeves’s Beatrice is wily and bewitching. Bryan Pringle’s blundering Dogberry brings depth and comedic presence to this finely tuned production. The period music in the background is intercut smoothly with realistic sound effects, making listening akin to a live theatrical experience.”