Fun Begins, The

Synopsis: Audio podcast. Episode five of an all-black radio serialisation of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, , set at Howard University in the 1930’s. Episode scripts were adapted and produced by Catherine Eaton and rendered into modern English verse by Josh Wilder. The production was directed by Nelson T. Eusebio III.

5. Holofernes and Nathaniel pontificate about linguistics over dinner until Armado arrives. Holofernes perks up when Armado describes his friendship with the King, who has asked Armado to present a "delightful performance" for them all to enjoy. Holofernes proposes that they present "The Nine Worthies" and assigns their parts, with Armado as Judas Maccabeus and Moth as Hercules. Back at the Princess’s tent, she and her girlfriends laugh in delight at the love letters and gifts the King and his pals have sent to woo them. Soon, Boyet arrives laughing at what he’s just seen: The King, Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine have put on disguises and plan to court the ladies as "Muscovites". The Princess convinces her friends to get back at the men by disguising themselves as each other: The Princess will pretend to be Rosaline, Rosaline will pretend to be the Princess, Maria will be Katharine and Katharine will be Maria. The suitors arrive in their Muscovite costumes with the Howard Marching band in tow and end up getting completely fooled by the ladies.
Series: Play on Podcasts: Love’s Labour’s Lost
Language: English
Medium: Audio
Notes: Part of the ‘Play On Shakespeare’ project to create more contemporary and accessible versions of the texts for performance.
Subjects: Drama; Shakespeare
Keywords: radio drama