As a director, how would you direct Act Two, Scene three to enhance the comedy? Shakespeare's "much ado about nothing" is a romantic comedy in which two friends, Beatrice and Benedick,

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Wednesday 11th December 2002

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As a director, how would you direct Act Two,

Scene three to enhance the comedy?

Shakespeare’s “much ado about nothing” is a romantic comedy in which two friends, Beatrice and Benedick, are deceived into thinking that each one loves the other. Act Two, scene three is the tricking of Benedick by Leonato, Don Pedro and Claudio.

It is a pivotal scene within the play and the director of any production of “much ado about nothing”. Would need to consider with care how this could be staged.

I have decided to set important scene in a restaurant, where you always have a constant level of noise and action, which would make the scene far more interesting. The customers and waiters walking around around the scene would add a different dimension to the play, you can do much more when there are more characters, and although the customers and waiters are not characters, they help enhance the comedy.

The particular restaurant is a large, yet busy restaurant set in Rome, with passionate people, to enhance the comedy.

Set in the modern day, the scene begins with Don Pedro walking down a footpath along side the restaurant, Leonato and Claudio are jogging behind him trying to keep up with him, he then holds open the large restaurant door and as both Leonato and Claudio walk under his arm (which is holding the door) Don Pedro says, “come hither, Leonato, what was it you told me of today, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick?”

Don Pedro, looking very pleased with the attention he has brought to himself, notices that Signor Benedick, is starring at the three men, the men ignore Bededick, a man they would often speak to and know, Benedick is alerted by those important words, “in love”, Don Pedro says them with so much enthusiasm you may nearly believe that it was he who was in love. Benedick is looking longingly at Don Pedro’s mouth awaiting to hear more, but he dare not introduce himself to the men for fear that the conversation might end abruptly, he instead chooses to stay low, eavesdropping to hear the words the men say. Benedick notices how Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato, don’t wait for a waiter to take them to a table, but instead choose the small table near the door, which is separated from Benedick's table by a mere house plant, which couldn’t conceal a cat, let alone a person.

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Yet to Benedick’s astonishment they still don’t notice that there is a man who has his ear poking through a plant, listening to their conversation. Instead if you thought that the men actually wanted Benedick to hear what they said, you would be right.

The three men exchange devious smiles, perhaps to indicate that a plan had commenced.

Then Claudio says in surprised manor, “Oh aye, stalk on, stalk on, the fowl sits. I did never think that lady would have loved any man” Claudio finishes his sentence with a burst of laughter, making the other two men with ...

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