SHERBURNE – The Sherburne-Earlville High School presents William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” this Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. The comedy, written at the end of the 16th century, is one of Shakespeare’s plays written almost entirely in prose. This allows a much easier access by today’s audiences since prose is the more typical form of written language and allows for a natural flow of speech, instead of most of his other plays which are written in the rhythmical structure and style of verse.

The story takes place in Messina, Italy. Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon (Jeff Taylor), pays a visit to Leonato, the governor of Messina (Brad Ward), while returning from a victorious campaign. Accompanying him are two of his officers, Benedick (Devin Miller) and Claudio (Brent Guiles), as well as his bastard brother, Don John (Craig Natoli) with whom he has just recently reconciled. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato’s daughter, Hero (Joelle Clark); Benedick verbally spars with Beatrice, the governor’s niece (Emilee Smith). The budding love between Claudio and Hero prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for the marriage.

Meanwhile, the trickery begins as Don Pedro (with the help of Leonato and Claudio) attempts to sport with Benedick and Beatrice in an effort to make the two of them fall in love. Likewise, Hero and her waiting woman, Ursula and Margaret (Margaret Dushko and Claire Khoury) help to set up Beatrice. Both Benedick and Beatrice will think that the other has professed a great love for them.

The marriage of Claudio to Hero is set to go. Don John despises Claudio, however, and plots against him. First, he tells Claudio that Don Pedro wants Hero for himself; next, he enlists the aid of his henchmen Borachio and Conrade (Ed Rigano and Jacob Taylor) and Margaret, Hero’s gentlewomn disguised as Hero to stage an encounter that will bring Hero’s virtue into question. Claudio falls for the ruse and denounces Hero at the altar. Friar Francis (Shannon Staley) helps her, hiding her away and enlisting the aid of Leonato, who announces that his daughter has died of grief from the proceeding.