Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
Performs in the Ford Studio

Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, pays a visit to Leonato, the governor of Messina, while returning from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John. Accompanying him are two of his officers, Benedick and Claudio. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato’s daughter, Hero; Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice, the governor’s niece. The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for the marriage.

Meanwhile, the trickery begins as Don Pedro (with the help of Leonato and Claudio) attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to make the two of them fall in love. Likewise, Hero and her waiting woman help to set up Beatrice. Both Benedick and Beatrice will think that the other has professed a great love for them.

The marriage of Claudio to Hero is set to go. Don John—ostensibly reconciled with his brother—despises Claudio, however, and plots against him. First, he tells Claudio that Pedro wants Hero for himself; next, he enlists the aid of his henchman Borachio and one of Hero's gentlewomen disguised as Hero to stage an encounter that will bring Hero’s virtue into question. Claudio falls for the ruse and denounces Hero at the altar. Friar Francis helps her, hiding her away and enlisting the aid of Leonato, who announces that his daughter has died of grief from the proceeding. These events all lead to a surprisingly clever resolution offering reconciliation and abundant humor.

In Venice, young Bassanio needs a loan of 3,000 ducats so that he can properly woo a wealthy heiress of Venice named Portia. To get the necessary funds, Bassanio entreats his friend Antonio, a merchant. Antonio’s money, unfortunately, is invested in merchant ships that are presently at sea; however, to help Bassanio, Antonio arranges for a short-term loan of the money from Shylock, a Jewish usurer. Shylock has a deep-seated hatred for Antonio because of the insulting treatment that Antonio has shown him in the past. When pressed, Shylock strikes a terrible bargain: the 3,000 ducats must be repaid in three months, or Shylock will exact a pound of flesh from Antonio. The merchant agrees to this, confident in the return of his ships before the appointed date of repayment.

At this stage of the play, Portia is introduced: due to her father’s will, all suitors must choose from among three coffers—one of which contains a portrait of her. If a man chooses the right one, he may marry Portia; however, if he chooses wrong, he must vow never to marry or even court another woman. Princes of Morocco and Arragon fail this test and are turned away. As Bassanio prepares to travel to Belmont for the test, his friend Lorenzo elopes with Jessica, Shylock’s daughter (who escapes with a fair amount of Shylock's wealth in the process). Bassanio chooses the lead casket, which is the correct one, and happily agrees to marry Portia that very night.

In contrast to this happiness: Antonio finds himself in a pinch; Upon hearing bad news, Portia travels with her maid, Nerissa, disguised as a lawyer and clerk, respectively; Bassanio arrives when the loan is in default and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The duke, who sits in judgment, will not intervene. Portia enters in her guise as a lawyer to defend Antonio. And the story progresses to a dramatic, humiliating, and happy ending.

Also known as “The Lass that Loved a Sailor,” this operetta offered plot twists and whistle able tunes that gave Gilbert and Sullivan their first mega hit in 1878. As the action begins, rollicking sailors sing as they swab the quarterdeck of their saucy ship H.M.S. Pinafore in preparation for the arrival of Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty. Buttercup, a bumboat woman, comes aboard to sell her stock of “snuff and tobaccy” to the sailors. Ralph, a lowly sailor, confesses to his mates that he has fallen in love with the captain’s daughter, Josephine. He is reminded by the ugly Dick Deadeye, “Captain’s daughters don’t marry foremast hands.” The Captain arrives to inspect his crew, and we learn that Buttercup has a romantic interest in the Captain and harbors a secret about Ralph. Josephine is sought in marriage by Sir Joseph, but she is unenthusiastic about the cabinet minister as she is secretly in love with a lowly sailor--Ralph Rackstraw!. Finally, Sir Joseph arrives attended by his many “sisters and his cousins and his aunts.” He insists on polite language and honor even in the lowest ranks of the British Navy insisting “ a British sailor is any man’s equal”--except himself of course. He and the Captain retire to discuss the marriage proposal. Ralph finds Josephine alone on deck and declares his love for her. She rejects his proffered love, although his simple eloquence goes to her heart. She is a dutiful daughter and cannot forget the disparity in their ranks. But when Ralph threatens suicide, the lady relents and declares her love for him. With the crew and the sisters, cousins and aunts assisting, the lovers plot to elope that very night.

Captain Corcoran is alone on deck with his guitar and sings to the moon of his troubles. Little Buttercup comes to him and reveals her affection. He tells her that because of his rank he can never be more to her than a friend; but she hints darkly that a change is in store for him, and “things are seldom what they seem.” As the dejected Buttercup leaves, Dick Deadeye reveals the planned elopement to the Captain. They lie in wait for the crew, who steal in “carefully on tip-toe.” The Captain confronts the elopers and is so exasperated that he actually swears a foul oath: “Damme!” which is overheard by Sir Joseph Porter. Aghast at this impropriety, Sir Joseph orders the Captain to go to his cabin for this “ill-advised asperity.” Sir Joseph finds out that Ralph and Josephine love one another and orders the “presumptuous” sailor to the brig. And the music and action whirls to an ending with “joy and rapture unforseen,” for “he is an Englishman!” Hip, Hip, Horray!