Modern Messina – Our weekly interview for those in the know…
MM: Today we meet one of Messina’s most remarkable young women The Lady Beatrice. Hello, Lady Beatrice how are you today?
Beatrice: I am well thank you but please just call me Beatrice.
MM: Right you are. Tell us a little about your family and everything.
Beatrice: Well, I live with my uncle Leonato who is, of course, our governor. My parents are no longer with us so my uncle very kindly took me in. I live there with my cousin Hero which is good for me in some ways as I have someone to talk to but in other ways it is not so good.
MM: Not so good? How so?
Beatrice: Well, don’t mistake me, I love and respect Hero and would never do anything to harm her, but she is just so good that she shows me up I think.
MM: Shows you up? What do you mean?
Beatrice: Hero is quiet, thoughtful and trusting and I am not! I always want to make my feelings known, I sometimes speak too quickly and that can get me into trouble and I am suspicious of people’s motives, especially men!
MM: My, that was said with real feeling. What is at the bottom of that remark I wonder? Have you perhaps been hurt in the past?
Beatrice: I’m afraid so. I was friendly with a man once but all the promises he made were false and it all came to an end. I am determined never to fall for such tricks again. As far as I am concerned I will be very careful before I allow myself to become involved with a man again.
MM: What would make the ideal man for you?
Beatrice: It would need to be someone who is a mixture of light-hearted fun with a serious approach to life when it is needed. The man I was friendly with just kept on making witty remarks and was never serious especially when he made all those promises to me.
MM: Who was this man who treated you so badly? Can you tell us?
Beatrice: Yes, I will tell you; it is that famous fool Benedick, he who makes so many weak jokes all the time that I am amazed the Prince puts up with him a moment longer. Yes, Benedick, though I hate to say the name.
MM: Well, thank-you Beatrice for being so honest with us. I guess we shall not being seeing you get married any time soon then?
Beatrice: I am certain of it!