1. Much Ado About Nothing
A Brief Overview

2. The Facts Location: Messina, Sicily Population: Very small
Governor: Leonato
Date written:
Genre: Romantic comedy
Mood: Light and silly

3. Don Pedro,
prince of Aragon,
leads the soldiers
of Messina back
from a victorious
battle and is welcomed
by Leonato, governor of Messina.
Don Pedro has recently rekindled his relationship with his illegitimate brother, Don John, who is reminiscent of
Oscar the Grouch.

4. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Gov. Leonato 

5. Benedick, a soldier, reunites with his verbal sparring partner, Gov
Benedick, a soldier, reunites with his verbal sparring partner, Gov. Leonato’s niece, Beatrice. Benedick and Beatrice pummel each other with insults. Beatrice thinks men are idiots and Benedick swears to remain a bachelor all his life.

6. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Gov. Leonato   Beatrice (niece) 
Benedick

7. Another soldier, young Claudio, is in love with Gov
Another soldier, young Claudio, is in love with Gov. Leonato’s daughter, Hero. He’s a wimp though, and Don Pedro offers to pretend to be Claudio and sweet talk Hero for him at a costume party.
Don John gets word of this and then tells Claudio that Don Pedro plans to woo Hero for himself. It works out though, and Hero and Claudio plan to get married in a week.

8. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Gov. Leonato   Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)
<3 
Claudio Benedick

9. Prince Pedro decides to try to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love
Prince Pedro decides to try to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love. After spreading rumors that the two overhear, he succeeds.

10. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Gov. Leonato   Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)
<   <3
Claudio Benedick

11. Don John decides to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding just for kicks
Don John decides to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding just for kicks. His buddy, Borachio, is “seeing” Hero’s servant, Margaret, who happens to look a lot like Hero.
Don Pedro &
Claudio see Borachio
with Margaret and Don
John makes them
believe it was Hero.

12. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Borachio  + Margaret ?
Gov. Leonato   Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)
<   <3
Claudio Benedick

13. At the wedding Claudio accuses Hero of cheating on him and storms off
At the wedding Claudio accuses Hero of cheating on him and storms off. Hero’s family decides to pretend that she died suddenly in hopes that they might buy time to figure out what happened.

14. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Borachio  + Margaret ?
Gov. Leonato   Hero (daughter) X Beatrice (niece)
<3     <3
Claudio Benedick

15. Luckily, Borachio brags to Conrad about what he did and is arrested by the night watchmen, headed by Dogberry and his wingman, Verges. Everyone else finds out the truth but they leave Claudio in the dark to make him feel extra guilty for Hero’s death.

16. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Borachio  + Margaret ?
Conrad 
Gov. Leonato   Hero (daughter) Beatrice (neice)
<3     <3
Claudio  Benedick
Dogberry
Verges
Night Watchmen

17. Gov. Leonato tells Claudio he must marry his brother Leonato’s “daughter” but she is revealed to be Hero.
Benedick & Beatrice decide to get married, too.
The End.

18. Don Pedro 
(brothers)
Don John 
Borachio  + Margaret ?
Conrad 
Gov. Leonato   Hero (daughter) Beatrice (niece)
(brothers) <3    <   <3
Antonio  Claudio  Benedick
Dogberry
Verges
Night Watchmen