Read by Greg Wise etc. - Arkangel Productions, 2003. - MP3, 64 kbps, 44 kHz, mono. -
02:26:01.
Young King Ferdinand and his courtiers agree to dedicate three years to ascetic and celibate study. But when the fetching Princess of France and her ladies arrive on a diplomatic mission, the men’s resolve is put to an arduous – and witty – test. The tension between their vow and their passion forms the subject of this charming, sparkling early comedy.
Perfomed by:King of Navarre - Greg Wise.
Berowne - Alex Jennings.
Princess of France - Samantha Bond.
Rosaline - Emma Fielding.
Don Armado - Alan Howard.
Longaville - Jonathan Tafler.
Dumaine - John Warnaby.
Maria - Sarah Rice.
Katharine - Katharine Schlesinger.
Boyet - Nicholas Woodeson.
Moth - Steven O'Neill.
Holofernes - David Horovitch.
Nathaniel - Kenneth Jay.
Dull - John Dallimore.
Costard - Max Bonamy.
Jaquenetta - Emily Raymond.
ACT I
Scene 1. The young King of Navarre has vowed to turn his court into "a little academe," by dedicating himself to study and shunning the company of women for three years. The lords Dumain, Longaville and Berowne have sworn the same oath, though Berowne remains skeptical as to its value. Amusement will be provided by Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard, and Costard the clown. Costard is brought before the King by Constable Dull, who has arrested him for being with a woman. Costard is sentenced to a week of fasting with bran and water.
Scene 2. Armado quips with Moth, his page, before confessing that he is in love. The object of his passion is the very same Jaquenetta with whom Costard was apprehended.
ACT II
Scene 1. The Princess of France has arrived in Navarre on a diplomatic mission from her father, who is in debt to Navarre. The Princess is refused entrance to the palace under the terms of the King's oath and is lodged outside with her entourage of ladies. Here she is visited by the King and his lords, and the negotiating process begins. The French Lord Boyet observes wryly as each of the lords falls for a lady: Dumaine for Katharine, Longaville for Maria, and Berowne for Rosaline. He teases the Princess that she too has made her conquest - the King is smitten with her.
ACT III
Scene 1. The witty Moth runs rings around verbose Armado. Armado orders Costard to deliver a letter to Jaquenetta, and Berowne gives him one for Rosaline.
ACT IV
Scene 1. The Princess is out hunting when Costard arrives with a letter for Rosaline. He has, however, mistakenly delivered Armado's letter to Jaquenetta rather than Berowne's.
Scene 2. Nathaniel the curate and Holofernes, a pedantic schoolmaster, are conversing learnedly when Jaquenetta arrives and asks them to read her Don Armado's letter. They quickly realize that this is Berowne's letter to Rosaline. Nathaniel considers the verse in which it is written "very learned," but Holofernes is unimpressed.
Scene 3. Berowne is composing a love poem to Rosaline and hides himself at the approach of the King, who is reading over some verses he has written for the Princess. When Longaville enters with a sonnet for Maria, the King, too, hides and is delighted to find "sweet fellowship in shame." Finally, Longaville observes Dumaine's arrival, again with paper in hand. One by one, the young men come out of hiding and admit their guilt; only Berowne is able to maintain the moral high ground having not been overheard at his composing by anyone. When Costard and Jaquenetta enter with his letter to Rosaline, however, he, too, is forced to confess: "Young blood doth not obey an old decree." The four young men then agree to "woo these girls of France" with revels, masques and dances.
ACT V
Scene 1. The King has ordered Don Armado to put on an entertainment for the Princess. Along with Holofernes, Nathaniel, Moth, and Costard decide to present themselves as the Nine Worthies.
Scene 2. While the Princess and her ladies laughingly compare the verses they have been sent, Boyet reports that the King and his lords are on their way, dressed as Russians. The Princess suggests that they put on masks and exchange favors thus concealing their identities from their suitors: thus each man pays suit to the wrong woman. When the King and his lords return, having dropped their disguises, the ladies speak scornfully of their Russian visitors. When Berowne realizes that a trick has been played on them, he rejects elaborate and pedantic language, vowing instead to woo "In russet yeas and honest kersey noes." The company is now entertained with the presentation of the Nine Worthies. Festivities are ended abruptly, however, when news arrives of the death of the Princess's father. The mood of festivity is broken and the ladies urge their suitors to spend a year secluded from the world, at the end of which time, when the period of mourning is over, they promise to give them a positive answer. The lords agree, and both parties pause only to hear a song composed by Holofernes and Nathaniel, before going their separate ways.