August 2 and 3, Saturday and Sunday at 5pm
Fess Parker Winery
6200 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos CA 93441
www.fessparker.com

August 9 – 24, Saturdays and Sundays at 5pm
Casa de la Guerra courtyard
15 East De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara CA 93101
www.sbthp.org/casa.htm

Synopsis

Don Pedro, Benedick and Claudio, three close friends, are returning from war after winning a great battle.  They have captured Don Pedro's brother, Don John, who was fighting against them in the war.  They arrive at Leonato's estate, where they plan to rest and relax.  There, Claudio falls in love with Leonato's daughter, Hero, at first sight. Benedick and Beatrice, Hero's cousin, entertain everyone by making fun of each other. In private, Claudio tells Benedick that he loves Hero, but Benedick tries to dissuade Claudio from falling in love, which Benedick vows he will never do. Don Pedro, however, vows to help Claudio by disguising himself as Claudio and wooing Hero. Don John's servant Conrade overhears the plan, and tell it to Don John, who decides to seek revenge on Don Pedro and Claudio, by making Claudio think Don Pedro wants Hero for himself.

At dinner, Beatrice vows to never marry, echoing Benedick's earlier vow. The men arrive in masks: Don Pedro and Hero dance; Benedick and Beatrice dance, and she makes fun of Benedick.  Don John appears to Claudio, who identifies himself as Benedick, even though Don John knows he's Claudio. Don John tells him Don Pedro is actually in love with Hero, causing Claudio to become depressed.  To his relief, Don Pedro unites Hero and Claudio in future marriage. Further, Don Pedro plans to convince Beatrice and Benedick to marry one another, even though both have vowed to never marry. Soon, Don John learns of Claudio's engagement to Hero. Still hoping to foil their marriage, he and his servant Borachio plan to brand Hero as unfaithful, and wreck their wedding. In the garden, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio discuss Beatrice's "love" for Benedick. Although Benedick is hiding, they know he is there and lead him to believe she loves him; Benedick takes the bait.

Similarly, Hero and her servant Ursula discuss how Benedick is "in love" with Beatrice, while Beatrice herself hides in the garden and listens; she too takes the bait. Don John tells Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is sleeping around and will show them proof of it the evening before the wedding. At nightfall, Dogberry and Verges instruct the night watch to watch over the city. In hiding, they hear Borachio tell Conrade how he let Margaret woo him from Hero's bedroom, and thus deceive Don Pedro and Claudio into believing Hero is unfaithful. The next day, at the wedding, Claudio plans to denounce Hero and will not marry her. The watch arrests Borachio and Conrade, then Dogberry and Verges come to Leonato to tell him of the arrest, though he is too busy with the plans for the wedding to take much notice.

At the wedding, Claudio and Don Pedro accuse Hero of sleeping around and abruptly leave the ceremony. Disgraced, an angry Leonato vows to determine if the accusations are true. Further, the Friar suggest they pretend that Hero has died from the accusation, so that if a lie is being propagated, the source may admit the lie out of remorse. Privately, Benedick and Beatrice profess their love for one another. She asks him to prove his love by killing Claudio for wronging Hero. 

Borachio admits of his wrongdoings to slander Hero. Leonato, still dissembling that Hero is dead, instructs Claudio to come to his house in the morning, so that he can marry a "cousin" of Hero, who is nearly identical to her (and actually is her). Beatrice and Benedick continue to fall in love. At the tomb, Claudio delivers an epitaph to Hero. Then, in the morning, Benedick asks Leonato for Beatrice's hand in marriage. Further, Hero and Claudio are again engaged to be married. Lastly, it is reported that Don John has been arrested for his deceit and will be punished.