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loved especially the repartee between Benedick (Casey) and Beatrice
(Sabrina LeBeauf), spoken by both with a sparkle. Sample:
BEATRICE: I wonder that you will still be talking, Signor Benedick.
Nobody marks you.
BENEDICK: What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?
BEATRICE: Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such
meet food to feed it as Signor Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert
to disdain if you come in her presence.
BENEDICK: Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved
of all ladies, only you excepted, and I would I could find in my
heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none.
BEATRICE: A dear happiness to women! They would else have been troubled
with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of
your humor for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than
a man swear he loves me.
BENEDICK: God keep your ladyship still in that mind! So some gentleman
or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face.
BEATRICE: Scratching could not make it worse an ‘twere such
a face as yours were.
BENEDICK: Well, you are a rare parrot teacher.
BEATRICE: A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
BENEDICK: I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so
good a continuer. But keep your way, a God’s name! I have
done.
A thoroughly enjoyable play!
Goodness knows, Loretta and I tried, both at the play and in the
days before the play, to get backstage passes. To no avail. I want
to acknowledge Diane, because she was one of the persons who inquired
about passes, AND she let Casey know we were there, even though
he wasn’t allowed to see us. Thank you, Diane.
Most people left immediately after the play, but Eileen tolerantly
waited while Loretta and I collected what leftover playbills we
could find. Most of them were soggy city, but Loretta found seven
dry ones, and I three. We waited in Loretta’s car for a time
to see if any of the actors might drive by. Though a few cars came
from that direction, some pedestrians (staff) came along and told
us that the actors had all left.
We got back to Connecticut Avenue around 11 PM and stopped at Il
Tesoro for dessert to feast on chocolate concoctions. As we were
leaving, we learned that they had been about to close when we came
in (it had been a slow night due to the weather). Thank you, Il
Tesoro, for letting us indulge our sweet tooths (sweet teeth?) at
such a late hour.
Eileen and Loretta breakfasted EARLY the next morning - too early
for me, I fear; then Eileen had to head home and we reluctantly
bade good-bye. Loretta drove me home and trusted me to be the navigator.
This was very brave of her, because I do not drive and rely mainly
on the subway. This means that we got lost twice, but Loretta somehow
got me home, thank you, m’dear!
The Sun Comes Out
Would
I see a play again on a chilly, drizzly evening? Hard to say. What
I can tell you is that it’s almost two months later, and my
memory of that evening is not of the inclement weather but of a
delightful play headlined by two really fine actors. Maybe on June
5 I frowned at the weather, but also on June 5 I smiled and smiled
during the play - and ever thereafter I have smiled and smiled.
Do I make much ado about Much Ado? You bet!
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