Publisher Description
Much Ado About Nothing appears to have been written around 1599, shortly before As You Like It and Twelfth Night. The action combines two narrative threads: the spirited comedy of the courtship of Benedick and Beatrice, and the sombre tale of confused love between Hero and Claudio. The first is a creation by Shakespeare and the second appears to have been drawn from an Italian source, either by Bandello or Ariosto.
The action takes place in Messina. Eponymous lovers Hero and Claudio seem to be ideally matched and nearly everyone is looking forward to their impending marriage. The odd man out is the sinister Don John, brother and former enemy of Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, but recently restored to the Prince’s favour. Being of a morose and jealous temperament, Don John plots to disrupt the wedding and cause division between the lovers, with the aid of his fellow conspirators, Borachio and Conrade. However, this evil plan is thwarted by an unexpected incursion by the bumbling constables Dogberry and Verges. The young couple are finally reunited, but only after Claudio has first been led to believe that his rejected spouse, Hero, has died of shame and grief.
The matching of Beatrice and Benedick, encouraged by some artful chicanery by Hero and Claudio, and marked by many witty and sardonic exchanges of repartee, serves to lighten the texture of the darker elements of the action.
Featuring Emma Faye as Hero, Kendra Murray as Beatrice, Dara Brown as Claudio, Lillian Rachel as Benedick, Cate Barratt as Dogberry, and Gary Macfadden as Don John. Also featuring the voices of Catherine Bilson, Ron Altman, Alan Weyman, P J Morgan, Claudio Anglade, John Burlinson and Linda Barrans.
Songs arranged by Alan Weyman
Audio edited by Denis Daly
Text kindly provided by playshakespeare.com
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About the Narrators
R. F. Daley is an actor, voice-over artist, and audiobook narrator. His television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bones, Dexter, The Office, Arrested Development, Boston Public, and Spin City, among many others. He has narrated numerous audiobooks by L. Ron Hubbard and was the voice of the military adviser in the video game Civilization V.
After a career in communications and a life dabbling in theatre, Cate Barratt now spends her time narrating audiobooks—from mysteries to dramatic readings, from comedies to history books. These can be found on Audible, iTunes, Amazon, and more.
Born in the UK, Lillian Rachel grew up in East Anglia and later moved north to Durham. She then married a US military man and spent time hopping across the pond to North America and back to Europe. Lillian works from her professional-grade home studio equipped with industry-best technology in sunny California. Outside the booth, she’s a wife, mum, dog rescuer, and lover of perfect pastries.
Denis Daly is an audiobook narrator and codirector of Voices of Today, an Australian spoken word production house.
Graham Scott is a narrator and voice actor based in the UK. As well as solo performances of works by authors including PG Wodehouse, Charles Dickens, R Austin Freeman, Dorothy L. Sayers, Jules Verne, Anna Katherine Green, Joseph Conrad, GK Chesterton, and John Buchan, Graham is also a regular performer in group productions with both Voices of Today and the Online Stage. Website: www.GrahamScottAudio.com
John Burlinson is an American audiobook narrator.
John Burlinson is an American audiobook narrator.
Gary MacFadden is a voice talent based in western Montana, USA. He works in commercial, e-learning, explainer videos, and audiobooks. Gary has narrated and produced over forty audiobooks, and has produced another dozen books for other narrators.
Melissa Green is an audiobook narrator, currently residing on the northwest coast of Washington. She is a passionate reader and has pursued many areas of study including biology, premed, massage therapy, European history, vocal performance, opera, street theatre, and dance.
Denis Daly is an audiobook narrator and codirector of Voices of Today, an Australian spoken word production house.