Cocktail Party Fact: Although the title Much Ado About Nothing seems perfect, some scholars believe it was a rewrite of an earlier play now lost and called Love’s Labor’s Won. This title was included in a list of Shakespeare’s plays, but no text exists of it. Others believe that was an earlier title for The Taming Of The Shrew.

Here’s The Plot: Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, is returning from a war with his victorious soldiers. One of them, Claudio is in love with Hero, and hopes to woo her. His compatriot Benedick derides this notion. At a masquerade ball, the masked Don Pedro woos Hero in Claudio’s name. Meanwhile, Benedick trades quips with the equally cynical Beatrice. Don Pedro decides he will get the two to fall in love with one another. He arranges for Benedick to overhear a conversation in which it is mentioned that Beatrice secretly loves him, and for her to overhear a similar conversation about him. In spite of themselves, they fall in love. Claudio and Hero have their own trial to overcome, as Claudio accuses her of being faithless at their wedding ceremony. Only a faked death of Hero allows him to see the foolishness of his assertion, and all ends with the two couples happily together.

Memorable Moments: The scene in which Benedick talks to himself about Beatrice’s supposed ardor for him, followed by a meeting with her in which he misinterprets every innocent thing she says as a having secret double meanings, is as funny today as four hundred years ago.

Vital Statistics: Written sometime in 1598, it was performed often and was a great success in Shakespeare’s lifetime.

Why See It?: The sparring relationship between the independent Beatrice and the witty and cynical Benedick, who tease and taunt each other while secretly being in love. It is the model for practially every screwball comedy starring Katherine Hepburn and Carey Grant or Spencer Tracey, not to mention most of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies.