Much Ado About Nothing
William Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing" differs in many ways to MGM Studios adaptation to the text. With over 400 years separating the original play from the modern day film, there are many differences in characters, the setting, the costumes, and the dialogue. Many of the changes made in the adaptation were probably due to how much things have advanced in the last four centuries. Styles have changed. What can be expected and permitted in performances has changed. Film directors know that to captivate an audience now takes more than it would to attract an audience in the 1500's. Props have also advanced. I intend to briefly talk about the differences I observed in the text version of the play and the movie. When watching the film "Much Ado About Nothing" the first difference I noticed was the setting. The movie is set in the hills of Tuscany with a light-hearted tone. From reading the play, I understood the tone to be more formal. The whole society seemed concerned with physical appearance and the opinions of others. All darkness portrayed in the play was absent and gave way to
In conclusion, I would say that there were many advances in the worldwide theatre in the past four centuries. The source and the receiver have changed in style and disposition. Changes in props, settings, characters, wardrobe, dialogue, and receivers' attitudes have led to the editing of a masterpiece of the 1500 and 1600's to an updated popular comedy. "Don Pedro: My visor is Philemon's roof; without in the house is Jove." (II.1.100-101) Lines that enhanced the formal tone in the text version of the play were also removed in order to avoid the negativity and keep the warm-hearted atmosphere. However, in the movie Claudio seemed very innocent. Robert Sean Leonard, the actor who plays Claudio, is a young actor whose face is focused on for expressive reactions. I think that Shakespeare portrayed Claudio a little differently than Branagh interpreted his character.
Some common words found in the essay are:
MGM Studios, Don Pedro, Sean Leonard, II1100-101 Lines, III Scene, Kenneth Branagh, II3284-285 Hileman, Hath Leonato, text version, William Shakespeare's, African American, version play, text version play, don pedro, film written, film version, female characters, run bathe, modern day,
Approximate Word count = 746
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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