Much Ado about Nothing is a well-known play written by Shakespeare which takes place in  Leonato’s villa located in Messina. In Much Ado about Nothing, love and marriage are the main focal points of the play. Love inspires many of the characters because they are desperate and yearning to find love. The characters want to find a special person to marry, and they will do everything they can to make sure it happens. In the story, there are two main couples in the play. In the beginning, Benedick and Beatrice are constantly feuding and making fun of one another but they seem deeply in love by the end of the play. Another couple in the play are Hero and Claudio. Their relationship in the beginning seemed perfect, but it later becomes toxic and untrustworthy by the end of this play. Since there is so much love and feuding, Shakespeare lightens the mood by including Dogberry, a humorous man, in the play. The audience and readers always feel mirth when Dogberry takes the stage. While the 2011 version and 2024 version were both successful, the 2011 version portrayed Much Ado about Nothing more successfully in both its set and costume creation and its portrayal of the leading role, Benedick.

In both sets of Much ado About Nothing were beautifully created. They were both unique and different from one another. In the 2024 version, which took place in the Otto M. Budig Theater, the design of the set was exceptionally beautiful. All of the details were amazing to see, and every detail was a beautiful addition to the set. This set was definitely more modern than the set for the 2011 version, and it was amazing to see how different each set was. In this set there were many patterns and there were many verdant and vibrant colors; however, in the 2011 set, the set was more monochromatic, but it still portrayed the play very well.  The lights were vibrant and colorful and there were many special effects included in the 2024 version. The director most likely chose this more modern set for both versions because they want to relate the play to a more modern time. The reason why the set in the 2011 version was more successful is because it was a perfect amount of color and props in the play. There were many more props in this version, and it added an element of surprise because there were many things in the 2011 version that were not expected: the scene where Beatrice was hanging from the ceiling, and when Benedick was covered in paint. It was a plain and simple set and ones that are plain and simple are usually the most successful. The message was sent better in the set in 2011 because there was a deeper portrayal of certain aspects in this version. In the 2011 version, there was an abundance of costumes, but in the 2024 version, there was a meager amount of costumes. Even though the 2011 version’s production was efficiently created, the 2024 version was extremely gorgeous and appealing.

In the 2011 version Benedick, who is played by David Tennant, is more humorous than the Benedick in the 2024 version. David Tennant brought life to this play rather than Geoffrey Warren Barnes II in the 2024 version. When there were poignant scenes in the play, David Tennant made the scenes more entertaining. David Tennant in the 2011 version was portrayed differently than Geoffrey Warren Barnes II in the 2024 version. He was overall the funniest Benedick, and he could also become solemn in serious situations. The Benedick in the 2024 version was funny but not nearly as funny as the Benedick in the 2011 version. The two actors are completely different from each other because they have different acting styles and strategies. David Tenant portrayed Benedick the best because it was easy to tell that he was the actor for Benedick than in the 2024 version. David Tenant brought an overwhelming sense of joy, and he was immediately likable when he first entered the stage.

In conclusion, there were many different themes that were portrayed differently in both versions. In the 2011 version and the 2024, it emphasized the importance of love and trust with the people you love. The two main couples are completely different from one another. Both productions portrayed this very well, but the 2011 version portrayed it perfectly. There was a perfect amount of laughs, and it was easy to understand the message and the play. It emphasized the theme of love and marriage because it showed different types of couples, and it relates to the real world. On the one hand, there is a couple who are so deeply in love, but they have trust issues later on. On the other hand, there is a couple that constantly bickers, but they fall deeply in love with one another by the end of the play. The 2011 production emphasizes that there is also happiness and joy in love and marriage, and it is important to have those qualities in order to have a successful marriage. Both productions are executed well, but overall, the 2011 production did an excellent job in the design and portrayal of Bendick for Much Ado about Nothing.