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Performed by the LSC at Fulbeck Hall, Grantham
1st July 1995
Bishop's Old Palace, Lincoln 18th - 29th July
1995
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire 11th - 12th August
1995
Director: Liz Lucas
Assistant Director: Neil Perkins
Music: Liz Lucas and Nikki-Kate Heyes
Leonato: Neil Perkins
Beatrice: Jo Clark
Hero: Jo Smith
Don Pedro: Dave Clayton
Benedick: Simon Clark
Claudio: Simon Hollingworth
Antonio: Richard Jones
Don John: Paul Corbett
Borrachio: John Armitage
Don John: Rob Smith
Margaret: Karen Crow (nee Harrison)
Ursula: Aggi Gunstone
Dogberry: Colin Brimblecombe
Verges: Richard Jones
First Watch: Karen Crow
Second Watch: Liz Lucas
Friar Francis: John Armitage
The Sexton: Paul Corbett
Messenger: Aggi Gunstone
Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, returns
successfully from war to the idyllic province of Messina with his
brother, Don John, and his companions, Benedick and Claudio. The
Governor of Messina, Leonato, welcomes them and introduces his daughter,
Hero, with whom Claudio falls instantly in love. Benedick and the
Governor's niece, Beatrice, are old flames who cross swords in an
ongoing battle of wits and protest their loathing of each other.
Don Pedro agrees to woo Hero on Claudio's behalf but the prince's
villainous brother, Don John, contrives to foil the proposed marriage
by showing Hero to be an adulteress! Claudio and the Prince witness
Borachio and Margaret making love and are persuaded by Don John
that this is indeed Hero. Claudio denounces her at the wedding ceremony
and Hero collapses. Claudio leaves believing her to be dead. Beatrice
and Benedick are tricked into revealing their love to each other
and Beatrice tests this love by asking Benedick to kill Claudio
to avenge her cousin's dishonour. Tragedy is averted by the arrest
of the plotters by the gentlemen of the watch, headed by the ludicrous
Dogberry, and all ends happily with the double marriage of Claudio
to Hero and Beatrice to Benedick.
"One of the worst fears of an actor is being
stuck on stage not knowing what to say or do. This nightmare was
realised by Paul Corbett (the Sexton) in 'Much Ado'. Paul had
been directed to sit and wait until the end of a scene, until
he was 'collected' by myself, and led off stage. Unfortunately,
one night, I was in such a rush to change my costume for the next
scene, that I completely forgot about Paul, who sat there waiting
anxiously for what must have seemed like an age. Eventually he
had to shuffle off of his own accord, and he was not best pleased
with me, but it was nothing compared to what I was feeling as
I stood in the wings in my underpants, realising that I'd left
Paul behind!"
Richard Jones, 'Antonio', 'Verges'.
"full of energy from beginning to end...delighted
the audience"
Lincoln Target, 20th July 1995
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