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Much Ado Much Ado About NothingAbout Nothing

A Brief OverviewA Brief Overview

Born in 1564Born in 1564 Married Anne Hathaway Married Anne Hathaway

1582, had 3 children1582, had 3 children 1590, left his family 1590, left his family

behind to travel to behind to travel to London to be an actor and London to be an actor and playwrightplaywright

Part owner of the Globe Part owner of the Globe TheaterTheater

Part of The Kings’ Men: Part of The Kings’ Men: company of actors who company of actors who performed for the kingperformed for the king

Died in 1616 on his Died in 1616 on his birthdaybirthday

Key Facts about Key Facts about ShakespeareShakespeare

Shakespearean Theater Shakespearean Theater ConventionsConventions Originally, plays were Originally, plays were

performed in taverns and performed in taverns and inn yards that eventually inn yards that eventually developed into outdoor developed into outdoor stages and finally into stages and finally into theaterstheaters

Plays were performed in Plays were performed in the early afternoon. A flag the early afternoon. A flag would be raised atop the would be raised atop the theater to let the public theater to let the public know there would be a know there would be a performance that day.performance that day.

Shakespearean Theater Shakespearean Theater ConventionsConventions ““Groundlings”- those Groundlings”- those

closest to the stage- closest to the stage- paid a penny. They paid a penny. They could also purchase could also purchase food to throw at the food to throw at the actors during the actors during the performance.performance.

If one wanted to sit, it If one wanted to sit, it would cost 2 pennies. would cost 2 pennies. If one wanted a If one wanted a cushion for that seat, it cushion for that seat, it would cost 3 pennies.would cost 3 pennies.

Money that was Money that was collected was kept collected was kept in box that was then in box that was then kept in a guarded kept in a guarded office….hence Box office….hence Box OfficeOffice

Shakespeare was Shakespeare was part owner of The part owner of The Globe, and several Globe, and several of his plays were of his plays were performed there.performed there.

Shakespearean Theater Shakespearean Theater ConventionsConventions

Unfortunately, in Unfortunately, in 1613, it caught 1613, it caught fire when a cannon fire when a cannon malfunctioned malfunctioned during a play. during a play. Burned to the Burned to the ground as a result. ground as a result. It was rebuilt the It was rebuilt the next year.next year.

The Puritans The Puritans closed the Globe in closed the Globe in 1642 and razed it 1642 and razed it in 1644.in 1644.

Currently, there is Currently, there is a replica theater in a replica theater in London.London.

Shakespearean Theater Shakespearean Theater ConventionsConventions

The FactsThe Facts Location: Messina, Location: Messina,

Sicily – 16Sicily – 16thth century century Population: Very smallPopulation: Very small Governor: LeonatoGovernor: Leonato Mood: Light and sillyMood: Light and silly Written in 1598 and Written in 1598 and

published in 1600published in 1600

ThemesThemes Appearance vs. Appearance vs.

RealityReality Don’t make Don’t make

hasty judgments hasty judgments Social Social

Conventions:Conventions: These are often These are often

at odds with at odds with authentic authentic communicationcommunication

DeceptionDeception Good vs. bad Good vs. bad

intentions for intentions for deceptiondeception

Importance of HonorImportance of Honor ““Noting”Noting”

Listening, Listening, observing, writing observing, writing or notingor noting

Lighthearted toneLighthearted tone Mistaken identitiesMistaken identities Multiple Plot LinesMultiple Plot Lines Frequent use of punsFrequent use of puns A clever “fool” or servantA clever “fool” or servant A conflict between propriety and A conflict between propriety and

debaucherydebauchery Young lovers who overcome obstacles to Young lovers who overcome obstacles to

their relationshiptheir relationship A happy ending that includes marriages, A happy ending that includes marriages,

and, often, reconciliations and reunionsand, often, reconciliations and reunions

Elizabethan ComedyElizabethan Comedy

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

• Don Pedro has recently rekindled his relationship with his illegitimate brother, Don John

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

Another soldier, young Another soldier, young ClaudioClaudio, is in love with , is in love with Gov. Gov. LeonatoLeonatos s daughter, daughter, HeroHero. Don . Don PedroPedro offers to offers to pretend to be Claudio pretend to be Claudio and sweet talk Hero and sweet talk Hero for him at a costume for him at a costume party. party.

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

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

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

Don PedroDon Pedro & & ClaudioClaudio see Borachio with see Borachio with Margaret and Don John makes them believe Margaret and Don John makes them believe it was Hero. it was Hero.

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

However will However will Shakespeare sort it all Shakespeare sort it all out?out?