MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

In Shakespeare's well-loved tale, listeners are taken to Messina, where idle people are pulled into a plot to unite two quick-tongued, marriage-hating adversaries, Benedict and Beatrice. In this portrayal, the witty Benedict is so fast talking that it's easy to miss the ends of his lines unless one listens carefully. A further problem is that various background noises sometimes drown out the speakers, making it hard to harder to follow the details of the complex plot. Happily, excellent vocal differentiation among the actors helps listeners follow who's who in the dialogue. Overall, the banter of the characters and the charming story will appeal to those who love Shakespeare's time-honored comedies. J.F.M.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 04]