Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
This is a slightly overrated Shakespeare play. It's title which is a play on slang for female genitalia also catches the fact that the play isn't really about anything. That's not necessarily a problem of course romantic comedies can all be about being light as a souffle, but this one is merely middling Shakespeare.
The romantic subplot between Beatrice and Benedict is superb with shining and wonderful banter. Dogberry is an effective clown character. Essentially a modern policeman. The problem is the main action. Claudio and Hero are not the greatest characters and the plot which involves a spurious accusation of infidelity is a very slight and inconsequential almost tossed away bit of plotting.
The dialogue is shiny and sparkly but I have to say that if one is looking for light Shakespearean comedy both Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream are much better plays in my opinion. Its good, but it is not quite as good as it is meant to be.
