This sparkling comedy of manners revolves around the amorous adventures of two couples, gentle Claudio and Hero, who want to marry, and the warring Beatrice and Benedick, who think they don't. This witty romp is one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies. Performed by Samuel West, Amanda Root, and the Arkangel cast.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A few things you should know about Arkangel's 'Much Ado About Nothing'
Mar 9 2010
By A Customer
Not really sure what to rate this...I don't like the play, but the performance is outstanding (just the other way around from Arkangel's 'Twelfth Night'). Nearly every actor performs exceptionally, especially Saskia Reeves as Beatrice and Steve Hodson as the villainous Don John. Bryan Pringle is also very funny as Dogberry, and the musical backing is beautiful, too.
For some this is Shakespeare's greatest comedy, but I think it's strangely soulless compared to 'As You Like It' or 'Twelfth Night'. As to the way Hero is treated, well, I hate to agree with the various feminist commentators, but it isn't a pretty spectacle.
Benedick and Beatrice are the real focus of the play, however, and here are acted brilliantly. 'Much Ado About Nothing' is an absurd play in many ways, but Shakespeare even at his worst has a crazed poetic power which transcends all manner of mediocre plot devices.
For some this is Shakespeare's greatest comedy, but I think it's strangely soulless compared to 'As You Like It' or 'Twelfth Night'. As to the way Hero is treated, well, I hate to agree with the various feminist commentators, but it isn't a pretty spectacle.
Benedick and Beatrice are the real focus of the play, however, and here are acted brilliantly. 'Much Ado About Nothing' is an absurd play in many ways, but Shakespeare even at his worst has a crazed poetic power which transcends all manner of mediocre plot devices.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, worth listening to, but check out the BBC version
Feb 20 2009
By C. McCloskey
- Published on Amazon.com
I like the Arkangel 'Much Ado' in general, but actually prefer the BBC version with David Tennant (available as a download). Why? For DT, of course. Both the actor playing Benedick here and DT whirl through all the witty banter at the beginning. However, I was thoroughly convinced at Benedick's change of heart in the DT version, where he is not just helping Beatrice out of duty or self-interest, but because he genuinely feels her pain and sees Hero's distress from her point of view. It is in the second half of the play where Tennant brings creates a nuanced character that I haven't see from any other actor. One would expect that the visuals available on stage or film would assist with this, but I didn't expect to be able to hear it on an audio book.
However, that isn't this version. This one is mighty fine and I enjoyed it tremendously. Enjoy!
However, that isn't this version. This one is mighty fine and I enjoyed it tremendously. Enjoy!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent dramatization
May 30 2006
By Dude's Mom
- Published on Amazon.com
I have been using this CD with my 9th grade literature class for the last two weeks. The actors use clear diction and their presentation of the language helps the students that are struggling to a better understanding of the text. Bryan Pringle's Dogberry is a real gem.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
delightful, clear production of a witty, fun play
Nov 8 2007
By David Evans
- Published on Amazon.com
This fully dramatized production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is delightful. Shakespeare's wit comes through in full force (especially in the Beatrice-Benedick storyline): I love that the words from hundreds of years ago can evoke my laughter today. This play is immensely fun and the performance is excellent.
The enunciation of the lines is clear and the voices of the different characters are distinct, but - not being a Shakespeare expert - I found it invaluable to read over the synopsis included in the liner notes, since the audio performance does not include any stage directions or character identification (as in "Beatrice:" and "Claudio:").* With that small help, however, my enjoyment was unhampered.
I highly recommend this dramatization!
* Indulgent tangent: The occasional confusion resulting from a lack of character identification reminded me of a wonderfully clever passage in Jasper Fforde's Lost in a Good Book (the sequel to The Eyre Affair) in which a fictional character hiding out in the real world is revealed due to his inability to follow "undedicated" dialogue (i.e., dialogue without explicit attribution as to who is speaking). Fforde's books are wonderful, silly fun for the Shakespeare and other literature lover; the passage I refer to is on page 360-361 of the paperback edition.
The enunciation of the lines is clear and the voices of the different characters are distinct, but - not being a Shakespeare expert - I found it invaluable to read over the synopsis included in the liner notes, since the audio performance does not include any stage directions or character identification (as in "Beatrice:" and "Claudio:").* With that small help, however, my enjoyment was unhampered.
I highly recommend this dramatization!
* Indulgent tangent: The occasional confusion resulting from a lack of character identification reminded me of a wonderfully clever passage in Jasper Fforde's Lost in a Good Book (the sequel to The Eyre Affair) in which a fictional character hiding out in the real world is revealed due to his inability to follow "undedicated" dialogue (i.e., dialogue without explicit attribution as to who is speaking). Fforde's books are wonderful, silly fun for the Shakespeare and other literature lover; the passage I refer to is on page 360-361 of the paperback edition.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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