This past weekend I saw “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare at The American Shakespeare Center. If you haven’t been to this amazing theater in Staunton, VA, check it out online and plan a trip! I’m proud to say my Dad played a huge role in bringing the playhouse to Staunton 35 years ago.
The play is a comedy set in Messina. It revolves around two couples, Beatrice and Benedick, and Claudio and Hero, as their love lives are entangled in schemes, misunderstandings, and witty banter. The play explores themes of love, deception, and societal expectations.
“Much ado” is caused by these misunderstandings and it got me thinking about how the play, written somewhere between 1598 and 1599, is applicable in 2023.
Especially because the play highlights the theme of deception and the contrast between how things appear and how they truly are. It teaches us to be cautious of appearances and to seek the truth behind them.
Overall, “Much Ado About Nothing” teaches us about the complexities of human relationships, the importance of communication, the dangers of deception and jealousy, and the potential for forgiveness and redemption.
Have you seen the play or been to the American Shakespeare Center?
ONWARD!
Emily