Acts I & II Wellesley College Shakespeare Society Spring 2026 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

HERO Lines & Blocking. A= aisle, Butte= Butte stairs, JB= Juliet balcony, TR= tech room, X= cross, exeunt= final exit for scene, D= down, S= stage, -->= to, U= Up, R= right, L= left, C= center

Beginning. Music?

[Enter USR Butte and X—> DSCL]

LEONATO: What is he that you ask for, niece?

My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

BEATRICE:___well, we are all mortal. LEONATO: You must not, sir,____

[Sit down.]

Fanfare.

[Stand up and X—> SR, next to BEATRICE.]

DON PEDRO: You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is your daughter.

[Step forward.]

~around~ BENEDICK: What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living!

[Join to right of and more DS of LEONATO, USC]

DON PEDRO: Your hand, Leonato; we will go together.

[Exeunt Butte after everyone else, stopping to look at Claudio]

Lights up?

[Enter JB w/ LEONATO, ANTONIO, & BEATRICE w/ masks & stand CA]

BEATRICE: How tartly the gentleman looks! I never can see him but I am heart-burned an hour after.

He is of a very melancholy disposition.

DON PEDRO: Lady, will you walk about with your friend?

So you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing,
I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away. [Start X MA—> UA.]

DON PEDRO: With me in your company?

I may say so, when I please.

DON PEDRO: And when please you to say so?

When I like your favour, for God defend the lute
should be like the case!

DON PEDRO: My visor is Philemon’s roof; within the house is Jove.

Why then, your visor should be thatched.

DON PEDRO: Speak low if you speak love.

[Go up stairs —>DSR]

BEATRICE: {…} for there’s a partridge wing saved. Music begins.

[Dance: 8 to get into spots, 4 men bow, 4 I bow, 4 clockwise up-n-down w/ right wrists, 4 opposite way, 4 in-n-out w/ left wrists, 4 clockwise up-n-down w/ right wrists MAKING FULL CIRCLE, 1234anda for out-in-out-threestepturn, 4 out-in-out-together, make courtesy, and X—> SR]

~around~ BENEDICK: Alas, poor hurt fowl!

[X w/ LEONATO —>UA]

BEATRICE: ___civil as an orange, and something of that jealous complexion.

[X—> MA]

BEATRICE: Speak, cousin; or, if you cannot, stop his mouth with a kiss, and let not him speak neither.

[Intimacy: Step 1- eye contact. Step 2- step in and tilt head to Right. Step 2.5- kiss Lucy’s left cheek 3 beats. Step 3- be shy. Step 4- Lucy will raise and kiss my right hand for 2 beats.]

CLAUDIO: And so she doth.

[X—>next to Claudio, then X—>CS]

DON PEDRO: And you too, gentle Hero?

I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my
cousin to a good husband.

DON PEDRO: ____Go in with me, and I will tell you my drift.

[Exeunt w/ CLAUDIO JB.]