Few things can reach out to an audience over a four hundred year expanse as well as the prose of William Shakespeare.

Are you in love? Do you perceive those in love as fools? Can you sympathize with those that suffer love? Perhaps it comes easily for you to poke fun at Cupid's prey. Whatever your romantic inclinations be, you will find an outlet in Much Ado About Nothing. Love is the theme - often the only - in well over twenty of Shakespeare's plays, both of his narrative poems, and all of his sonnets.Much Ado About Nothing is the last of his eight early comedies. The titles suggest unimportance in the subjects - As You Like It, What You Will, Alls Well that Ends Well, and Much Ado About Nothing. The last which seems to be a pun on noting (as they had the same pronunciation in sixteenth century England). Yet in spite of these "light" titles, the poetry wraps the spectator inside on intense whirlwind of deep emotion and shows us characters that truly feel for one another.

I believe the play to be written as a satire on societies feeble "courting rituals." Shakespeare implements much food for thought on the subject of love. Beatrice and Benedick seem to carry the morals of the play as well as the wisdom to care for themselves. Much Ado is filled with life's trials and tribulations - We have power struggles, meddling, revenge, denial, remorse, and the patience needed to accept your neighbors.

Perhaps, at the time of its conception, Shakespeare was battling with the mundane quality of daily living. Maybe his witnessed girls being unwittingly married off. Perhaps, he saw true love slip be as those experiencing it refused to accept the cuckhold horns. Communication is the key to this play. How communication falters and how it alters those people and circumstances surrounding mundane. I believe Shakespeare's intent was to make pause - think - and expand our conscious to recognize both our bad habits as well as our ancient social patterns. This play is being staged realistically with a strong absurdist theme underlying the action. Enjoy.

Kristi Gilmore
Artistic Director