Read with my theater class. They drew some interesting parallels between Hero/Claudio and Desdemona/Othello. It was a great discussion.

Every time I read the play I go through a whole string of emotions. Mostly, though, I do this: "UGH. MEN."

It's not Shakespeare's best play--the ending is too clean, and he forgot about the villain until the second-to-last line. But Beatrice and Benedick's romance is funny and tangy, and I like that he injected a huge tragedy into this supposed comedy.

My students said this is Shakespeare's version of high school, and I can't really argue with that.