Yes; there’s a lot of that these days!
I attended the opening night of Vancouver’s “Bard on the Beach” last night for “Much Ado About Nothing.” It appeared from the overall audience reaction, that this production was very well received. While I enjoyed the play and found the actors compelling, it is not one of my favourites of Shakespeare’s works.
The phrase “much ado about nothing” means a lot of fuss or commotion over something unimportant. It’s used when people get worked up or excited about a situation that turns out to be trivial or not worth the attention.
Nothing comes from the play’s title itself; a clever pun. In Elizabethan English, “nothing” was often pronounced like “noting,” which meant noticing or eavesdropping. So the title can also mean “Much Noting About Nothing,” hinting at how the entire plot revolves around overheard conversations, misunderstandings, and mistaken identities. Kinda like life itself at times.
For example, in Act 1, Scene 1, Beatrice jabs at Benedick with: “I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.” It’s witty, sharp, and shows how their “merry war” of words masks deeper feelings.
Sometimes I wonder why people are laughing at a certain scene or something that I personally do not find funny. I turned to my friend and asked “why are they laughing?” She replied “You know, humor is a funny thing.” To which I replied “well, that’s what it’s supposed to be.” Then we both laughed.
If you’re into clever insults, romantic drama, and some old-school scheming, this play’s a classic.
So next time someone’s making a big deal out of a minor issue, you’ve got the perfect phrase to describe it.
For Tickets:
June 10 to September 20 • BMO MAINSTAGE
“As merry as the day is long.” Two of Shakespeare’s most tumultuous couples – sparring singles Beatrice and Benedick, and young lovers Claudio and Hero – discover all is not as it seems in an idyllic town recovering from war. Will the truth win in this mischievous game of love? Secret love, courtship, and marriage intertwine with darker themes of warfare, deception, and mischief in Much Ado About Nothing. Romance, wit, and mistaken identities power this new staging of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy full of colourful characters, passionate poetry, and Shakespeare’s wittiest wordplay.
Watch Trailer:
Production run dates subject to change.
Production run time: 2 hours 45 minutes, including 20 minute intermission.
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