The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-04-27
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
MORE DRAMATIC POEM THAN
MOST OF THE COMEDIES.
Scene is Laid in Messina, Among Pal
aces, Courtiers, Soldiers, Intrigue,
Love, jealousy and Crime.

From the forest glades of Arden with
it's "dappled dun deer" it's groves and
thiCkets. its shepherds and shepherd
esses and its idylliC life, in Much Ado
About Nothing" we find ourselves in
the heart of a Sicilian city, the only
breath of fresh air that we get is in
the garden of the governors palace,
and we do get Whit of the stuffy
medieval city street, i'll smelling and
i'll lighted. with its low pent roofs, its
deep dOOrWayS where either the watch,
or the "VagrOm' men they are charged
to bid stand i'm the princes name
may play hide and seek indefinitely and
in which crime can be Matched and
confessions whispered. as BOraChiO
whispers his to Conrade. A ripe pair of
villains they. But the main scenes lie
in stately halls and Gothic interiors.
The keynote is intrigue and jealousy.
Much Ado About Nothing" comes pc
rilously near proving a tragedy. A very
| little turn might have made it end i'm
bloodshed instead of the stately pa
Won or minuet with which it is sup
! posed to close , when everybody is
united and is mated happily. But the
! note of retributiOn is clear in spite of
! the m lrry marriage bells, and the
1 bright quips of Beatrice and Benedict
| the dukes last words fOreshadOW 1t.
/ Think not on him till tomorrow; |
win devise thee brave punishment for
| him
But to the story. Don Pedro, Prince
| of Aragon, with his brother Don John,
and a train of courtiers, among whom
| are Claudio and Benedict, return from
/ the war to Messina, and are invited to
/ the governors OLeonatO's) palace
where fine entertainment is made for
( them. Leonato has daughter, Hero,
| and a niece. Beatrice. The former is
, beautiful and gentle, the latter beau
tiful witty and keen at repartee Don
John is jealous of Claudio, upon whom
Don Pedro has bestowed much hon
or" for his feats of arms. for he has
done lin the figure of a lamb, the feats
of lion
on presentation, Claudio straightway
fails in love with Hero; it is the ltal-
ian kindling of the flame which Shakes
peare so often uses, his hearts are like
finder ana catch fire on the instant
Benedict who has met Beatrice before
halls her as MY Dear Lady Disdain,
ana commences that war of sharp say
ings which marks the play as one OF
the wittiest that Shakespeare wrote
They rail at one another. They rail
at love. They find food for cutting
speeches i'm everything, and finally they
fail in love with one another, and ben
! edict' has become embalmed in our
language, as the word for newly
Claudio, though SO brave is dtlident
and Don Pedro offers 10 WOO Hero fol
him at a masquerade, win the consent
of her father and bring about the mar
riage. This plan is overheard by Bo
raChiO and carried to Don John, who
sees some chance of doing mischie
and hurt to Claudio. He is an amiabl,
youth is Don John, and on going to thu
banquet wishes the cook were of hi
mind" and poison the company.
The plans Of Don Pedro carry well
Claudio is accepted. The wedding da.
is fixed. But Borachio, Don Johns con
fident finds that Heros maid is an ole
flame of his and arranges to have
meeting with her at midnight from He
ros bedroom window. The object il
to prove Hero guilty of unchastity
Don John makes the accusation agains
to give proof. They hide in the gar
ueh l' see boIa I'M aO rleio "iluo"
am eUil l I'LL i i;,,, :, ,,ooa.,e,,, =,