Synopsis

Act I

Much Ado About Nothing takes place in the Pacific Northwest in 1991, where the governor, Leonato, lives with his daughter Hero, and his niece and Hero’s best friend, Beatrice. Leonato receives word that his friend Don Pedro has returned from war and will be visiting with his entourage. Amongst the group is Claudio, who immediately falls in love with charming Hero. In the party is also Benedick, a confirmed bachelor who has sworn off love and marriage. Upon his arrival, he and Beatrice resume the war of barbs and banter they have carried on since before his deployment.

Act II

Leonato decides to hold a masquerade ball to celebrate the end of the war and the return of the soldiers. Don Pedro charms Hero on behalf of his friend Claudio and the betrothal of Claudio and Hero is arranged. The wedding is to be the following Monday and to pass the time before then, Don Pedro, Claudio, Hero, and Leonato scheme to bring Beatrice and Benedick together. Amidst all the happiness, Don Pedro’s sister, Don John, hatches a plan to upset the levity and joy. Don John’s pettiness leads her to plot with soldiers Borachio and Conrade in a scheme to make Hero seem unfaithful to Claudio.

Meanwhile, Benedick ponders the effect of love on men as he wanders through the garden. He overhears his scheming friends talking about Beatrice’s supposed secret love for him and is floored. Benedick decides to woo Beatrice after the trickery of his friends has convinced him. Beatrice comes out to fetch him for dinner with her usual fire, and Benedick is effusively accommodating and complimentary towards her, much to her surprise.

Act III

Hero and her attendants, Margaret and Ursula, play the same trick on Beatrice in the garden that the men had done to Benedick previously. Beatrice, just like Benedick, is shocked, and decides to “take pity” on poor, lovestruck Benedick and love him back.

Foreground (from left): Donald Christopher as Leonato, Edward Stevlingson as Antonio, and Jack Stehlin as Claudio; background: Daniel Mooney as Don Pedro in the 1983 Milwaukee Rep production of Much Ado About Nothing. Photo credit: Mark Avery, UW-M Milwaukee Repertory Theater Photographic History Archive.

The action then turns to the absurd comedy of the governor’s watch and their bumbling members and leaders, Dogberry and Verges. They are on alert as Hero’s wedding is tomorrow. As the watch stop to take a rest, Borachio and Conrade approach, not seeing the officers. Borachio relays the lurid tale of the evening’s deception:

Borachio has wooed Hero’s friend, Margaret, and their tryst could be seen through Hero’s window. Borachio even convinced Margaret to don Hero’s clothing. Don John led Claudio and Don Pedro to the ground below, leading them to believe that Hero was the one making love to Borachio; Claudio was furious at the apparent betrayal and plans to humiliate Hero at the wedding tomorrow. The watchmen reveal themselves and arrest Borachio and Conrade for their crimes and haul them away to Dogberry and Verges for questioning.

The wedding day arrives, and Hero and her companions joke and banter as they prepare for the wedding. Claudio and his party arrive at the church as well. As Leonato is entering the church, Dogberry and Verges tell the governor that they have criminals that they want to question with him present, but he sends the watchmen away.

Act IV

All gather to begin the wedding ceremony, but when it is time for Claudio’s vows, he instead launches into an impassioned speech accusing Hero of being an unfaithful, wanton woman. Leonato and Hero ask what he could possibly mean and Claudio tells the tale of what he saw the previous evening. Leonato cries out and seeks a knife to commit violence upon himself. Hero faints as she is so overwhelmed. Benedick rushes to Hero’s side as Claudio, Don Pedro, and Don John leave without hesitation. The Friar steps in and the group realizes that the slander of Hero’s character must be the work of Don John. The Friar suggests that they all pretend that Hero has died of shock and grief in order to perhaps reveal the lie and punish those who mistreated her. Those assembled agree to the plan.

Robert Sean Leonard, Kenneth Branagh, and Denzel Wahington in the 1993 film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. Photo credit: IMDb.

Benedick and Beatrice are left alone and discuss their new feelings of love towards each other and their mutual surprise at the affection. When Benedick says he will do anything for Beatrice, she asks him to kill Claudio. Benedick refuses at first, but then agrees to challenge Claudio to a duel.

Elsewhere, Dogberry and Verges question Borachio and Conrade and unearth the truth of the evil plot. When they hear the details, they plan to take the perpetrators to Leonato.

Act V

Leonato talks with his brother, Antonio, about his immense grief and shock. Claudio and Don Pedro arrive and Leonato challenges Claudio to a duel to avenge his daughter’s supposed death, as he says that slandering her good name led her to die. The younger men ignore his challenge and the two older men vow to get their justice another way.

Benedick appears and instead of sharing some jokes, he shares a challenge for Claudio for a duel. Benedick informs them that he can no longer be their companion as they have caused an innocent woman’s death; he also tells them that Don John has fled. Dogberry and Verges enter, bringing Borachio and Conrade with them. The men reveal the truth of the earlier evening, and Claudio and Don Pedro realize they have wrongly accused Hero, ruined her family, and ended her life. Leonato and Antonio return; Claudio and Don Pedro beg for their forgiveness and penance. Leonato suggests that Claudio publicly proclaim Hero’s innocence, write her an epitaph to read at her grave, and marry Antonio’s “daughter”. Claudio gladly agrees.

Early the next morning, the community gathers to hear Claudio’s epitaph. After the ceremony, attention turns to Claudio’s impending wedding to Antonio’s daughter. As the wedding begins, the women arrive masked. Claudio vows to marry the masked woman by his side, who then reveals herself to be Hero, alive and well. After the wedding Benedick stops the festivities to ask Beatrice if she loves him; she denies it as does he. Claudio and Hero call their bluffs and reveal halfwritten love poems from the reluctant couple. Benedick and Beatrice admit their love and agree to a double wedding. Merriment and joy ensue.