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Age recommendation: This sophisticated and delightful comedy is suitable for ages 6 and up, although the complex verbal banter may be best enjoyed by ages 10 and up. Younger viewers will enjoy the low comedy of Messina’s well-intentioned lawmen.

Please note: Children under 6 are not admitted to plays or other events.

e-Luminations: Beatrice the Talkative
Click here to read an excerpt from Illuminations, OSF's 64-page guide to the plays.

Videos:
About the play (3:16)
Early thoughts on the production (4:41)

Synopsis: In the Sicilian city of Messina, Leonato, his daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice, welcome Don Pedro and his retinue — including young Claudio, Benedick and Don John — back from the recent wars. Leonato invites Don Pedro and his men to remain in Messina for a month as his guests, giving Beatrice and Benedick a chance to resume their long-standing “merry war” of barbs and jests. Meanwhile, Claudio takes notice of the lovely Hero and enlists Don Pedro’s help to woo her. Observing the merriment around him, the discontented Don John conspires with his pals Borachio and Conrade to spoil the fun.

At the masked ball that night, a disguised Don Pedro courts Hero on his friend’s behalf while Claudio looks on nervously. Although Don John nearly persuades Claudio that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself, Don Pedro quickly puts Claudio’s fears to rest and the young couple is officially betrothed. Pleased with his matchmaking success, Don Pedro proposes a new challenge to Leonato, Hero and Claudio: to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love with each other.

Spying Benedick in the orchard the next day, Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato make sure he overhears them talk about Beatrice’s hopeless love for Benedick and her determination not to reveal her passion, even if it kills her. Amazed, Benedick decides that he cannot let the poor girl die of lovesickness; he must love her back. Meanwhile, Hero and her lady-in-waiting, Ursula, also make sure Beatrice overhears them talking about Benedick’s love for her. Stung by Hero’s declaration that her cousin is too proud to love, Beatrice swears to tame her wild heart and return Benedick’s affections.

Even as Beatrice and Benedick’s rivalry gives way to love, Don John plots to ruin Claudio’s wedding by framing Hero for adultery. Don John arranges for Claudio and Don Pedro to stumble upon Borachio’s tryst with Hero’s serving-woman, Margaret, who is dressed in her mistress’s clothes. Thinking he has seen Hero with another man, Claudio rejects his bride before the assembled wedding guests, leaving Hero brokenhearted and her family devastated. The priest advises the family to pretend that Hero has died until they are able to clear her name.

Fortunately, the ragtag Watchmen commanded by Constable Dogberry soon reveal Don John’s plot and prove Hero’s innocence. As punishment, a remorseful Claudio agrees to marry another niece of Leonato’s, who, of course, turns out to be Hero herself. As the lovers are reconciled, Beatrice and Benedick confess their love to each other, allowing strife to give way to music, dance and peace. —Lydia Garcia