I finally went to watch the next running of Shakespeare In The Park, after missing out on "Midsummer Night's Dream" the last time round. "Much Ado About Nothing" is essentially a comedy of errors with a happy ending. Despite being a local production (not that local since there were a few foreigners), the casting was pretty good! Especially for Beatrice and Benedick.
Oh, I love Benedick! He is not the dashing, lovey gushing character like Romeo, but his wits are amazing indeed! And his infamous quotation :
"I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by failing in love: and such a man is Claudio. I have known when there was no music with him but the drum and the fife; and now had he rather hear the tabour and the pipe: I have known when he would have walked ten mile a-foot to see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man and a soldier; and now is he turned orthography; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn, but love may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair, yet I am well; another is wise, yet I am well; another virtuous, yet I am well; but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace. Rich she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her; fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. Ha! the prince and Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour."
Wow... that speech really turns me on! And for a confirmed bachelor to actually fall in love, yet too proud to admit it.. that is something else altogether! In a way, I am kind of like Beatrice - her pride to admit her feelings. But seeing how those two banter is really what stole the show!
My only gripe is that, for a play to be featured in a park, not just any park, but the park, I end up going alone. The rest are either couples or families, with their own picnic mats and snacks, whereas I sit alone on the grass, with no one but myself and the occasional ants crawling up my body for company. How I wish I really have someone with me!
Oh, I love Benedick! He is not the dashing, lovey gushing character like Romeo, but his wits are amazing indeed! And his infamous quotation :
"I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by failing in love: and such a man is Claudio. I have known when there was no music with him but the drum and the fife; and now had he rather hear the tabour and the pipe: I have known when he would have walked ten mile a-foot to see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man and a soldier; and now is he turned orthography; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn, but love may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair, yet I am well; another is wise, yet I am well; another virtuous, yet I am well; but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace. Rich she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her; fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. Ha! the prince and Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour."
Wow... that speech really turns me on! And for a confirmed bachelor to actually fall in love, yet too proud to admit it.. that is something else altogether! In a way, I am kind of like Beatrice - her pride to admit her feelings. But seeing how those two banter is really what stole the show!
My only gripe is that, for a play to be featured in a park, not just any park, but the park, I end up going alone. The rest are either couples or families, with their own picnic mats and snacks, whereas I sit alone on the grass, with no one but myself and the occasional ants crawling up my body for company. How I wish I really have someone with me!
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