Acts IV & V 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

Lights up.

[Preset DA. X—> Center stage and take Claudio’s hands.]

FRIAR FRANCIS: Lady, you come bother to be married to this count.

I do.

CLAUDIO: Know you any, Hero?

None, my lord.

CLAUDIO: Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness. There, Leonato, take her back again:_____

[Stumble backwards.]

CLAUDIO: I know what you would say: if I have known her, You will say she did embrace me as a husband and so extenuate the ‘forehand sin: No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; But, as a brother to his sister, show’d bashful sincerity and comely love.

And seem’d I ever otherwise to you?

CLAUDIO:___But you are more intemperate in your blood than Venus.

Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?

BENEDICK: This looks not like a nuptial.

True! O God!

LEONATO: I charge thee do so, as thou art my child.

O, God defend me! how am I beset!

What kind of catechising call you this?

CLAUDIO: To make you answer truly to you name.

Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name

With any just reproach?

CLAUDIO: ___Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.

I talk’d with no man at that hour, my lord.

LEONATO: Hath no man’s dagger here a point for me?

[Swoon!]

FRIAR FRANCIS: Lady, what man is he you are accused of?

They know that do accuse me; I know none:

FINISH

if I know more of any man alive than that which maiden modesty doth warrant let all my sins lack mercy o my father prove you that any man with me conversed or that I yestenight maintained the change of words with any creature refuse me hate me torture me to death

FRIAR FRANCIS: ‘Tis well consented: presently away;

For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure.

Come, lady, die to live: this wedding-day

Perhaps is but prolong’d: have patience and endure.

[Stand with Friar’s hand & Exeunt]

BENEDICK: Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low; And some such strange bull leap’d your father’s cow,___

[Enter JB; X—> CS]

CLAUDIO: Give me your hand: before this holy friar, I am your husband, if you like of me.

And when I lived, I was your other wife.
[Remove veil.]
And when you loved, you were my other husband.

CLAUDIO: Another Hero!

Nothing certainer:

One Hero died defiled, but I do live,
And surely as I live, I am a maid.

FRIAR FRANCIS: ____and to the chapel let us presently.

[X—>CA.]

CLAUDIO: ___A halting sonnet of his own pure brain, Fashion’d to Beatrice.

[Follow Claudio; X—> SR.]

And here’s another
Writ in my cousin’s hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.

Music.

[Dance: ]