Beatrice et Benedict
adapted from Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing
Synopsis
Act 1
The people of Messina celebrate the Sicilian victory in battle. The governor, Leonato, receives news that the victorious Don Pedro is about to arrive with his fellow officers. Leonato assures his daughter Hero that Claudio is among them and then Beatrice asks mockingly after Benedict. Hero is in love with Claudio and is overjoyed at his return while Beatrice and Benedict express their boiling disdain for each other.
Benedict took Claudio to be a fellow bachelor and cannot believe that now he admits to being in love with Hero and plans to marry her. Don Pedro and Claudio tease Benedict by suggesting that he too should consider marriage. Benedict confirms that it would be the last thing he would do.
Don Pedro decides that he will contrive a way to turn the war between Beatrice and Benedict into a love match. He enlists the support of Leonato and Claudio.
Somarone rehearses his newly composed choral wedding anthem, prompting Benedict to an outburst of regret that Claudio has joined the company of lovers. He hides from Don Pedro and Claudio but they spot him, giving them the opportunity to have him overhear a conversation with Leonato in which they say that Beatrice is fiercely in love with Benedict.
Benedict is profoundly affected by what he hears and declares that he in his turn will be 'horribly in love'.
Hero and Ursula, her lady in waiting, have played the same trick on Beatrice that the men played on Benedict. It is a beautiful night for Hero to reflect on her feelings of love.
Act 11
The night before Hero and Claudios' wedding Somarone leads a song celebrating the local Marsala wine. Meanwhile Beatrice has fallen for the trick: she is reminded that once Benedict had left for battle she had nightmares about him coming to harm - she admits to herself that she loves him.
Hero and Ursula join Beatrice and tease her before all three share Hero's joy on her wedding morning.
Benedict finds Beatrice and makes his new feelings known to her, but she is unable to cope and the wedding celebration interrupts them. Claudio and Hero reveal love poems that Beatrice and Benedict have written about each other and so then they both admit their love and agree a truce - until tomorrow!
