And Much Ado is probably my favorite Shakespeare play. I love it so much and I always get something new out of it even though I've read/watched it enough that I can quote long passages without having sat down to try and memorie them. This time was especially fun because while I was reading the full version, I was reading the Lamb's version to my youngsters. Lucy will begin Form 2 of her Charlotte Mason Education this fall (aka 4th grade) and with that comes regular exposure to the full plays of Shakespeare (we've been doing shortened versions such as Lamb's editions and Bruce Coville picture books from first grade). And Jonah's been listening in at times but this was his first to have to narrate. They both loved it! Honestly, that's one of my favorite parts of homeschooling, or really parenting in general. Sharing something I love with my kids and having them love it to. Whether it's a certain book or music or movie or game. I can't make them love it so it's always a question - will they? And I try to temper my excitement and seem even keeled because it's honestly okay if they don't always love what I love. And they don't. But when they do, it just makes me so happy!
We ended up watching the movie version. I had just meant to show a few clips on youtube but once they saw a few, they begged to watch the whole thing and the library has the Kenneth Branagh version so we went for it. And then the next day after they finished, the weather was yucky out and Lucy was sick so she asked to watch it again! Then I made Craig watch the Josh Whedon version with me after they were in bed which was a new one for me. And I listened to the Plays the Thing podcast while I read along and it was just all Much Ado About Nothing in our house for a few weeks. Which is as it should be. I guess I should actually talk about the play a bit now but really, it seems a bit ludacris for me to be reviewing Shakespeare. So I'll just tell you my favorite parts...
Benedict and Beatrice - Just a great couple. Maybe my favorite literary couple ever although that's probably too hard of a committment to ever make definitively. Great individual characters, so witty and loveable and yet, so easy to laugh at because they are just ridiculous. But its the kind of ridiculousness that I think we often recognize ourselves in which only serves to make them more loveable.
The unsaid - I like how we don't get all the details. What was Benedict and Beatrice's backstory? There is something there for sure. And the prince? He's not underdeveloped but at the same time, I'm always left wanting to know more about him. He proposes to Beatrice and gets turned down but seems like a good guy, why? (other than the obvious).
It doesn't take itself too seriously. There are some deep ideas here (constancy, knowing yourself, etc) but at the same time, it's just a whole bunch of fun and ridiculouslness. Sometimes when I read a Shakespeare tragedy, I feel almost worried or distraught...I'm missing so much, what does this mean, why did he say that. I don't feel that way about Much Ado About Nothing. I still know that I'm not getting all the references or the many many layers but each time I read I get more and that's fine. I just enjoy it for what I get from it with each reading and it's so enjoyable.
Much Ado About Nothing is my Back to the Classics Play Selection.
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