(none) | Print-friendly versionScandal at altar ruins top society wedding "I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me" [Beatrice, Act 1, Scene 1] | 
 | Guests at an exclusive wedding ceremony looked on in shock as bridegroom Claudio rejected his bride-to-be Hero in a dramatic outburst. He accused her of cheating on him, made suspicious by malicious lies spread by so-called friend Don John.
whirlwind romance
The young lovers had got together when Claudio and best mate Benedick, stayed at the home of Leonato, Hero's father. | Romance was in the air; on top of Claudio's proposal, Benedick and Hero's cousin Beatrice fell for one another - with a bit of help from their friends.
jilted at the altar!
However, the day before the wedding, two-faced killjoy John tricked him into thinking Hero was playing around. Once in church, Claudio confronted her at the altar, then walked out, leaving his stricken bride faint with shock. |  | Continued below... |  Beatrice
Hero's cousin is a girl with a sharp tongue but great sense of humour.
An old mate of Benedick, her feelings for him grew when she heard he'd fallen for her. |  Benedick
Known for his witty ways, Benedick is always a great laugh. For years he said he'd never marry, but when he heard Beatrice had a thing for him, he changed his mind!
|  Hero
Young beauty Hero is a quiet girl, who's loyal, honest and used to doing what she's told!
A sheltered upbringing has left her very innocent. |  Claudio
Headstrong but brave, Claudio recently returned from a tour of duty as a soldier, where he fought alongside Benedick. He's a good bloke, but needs to trust people more. |
| Luckily, the keen eyes of local police quickly cleared Hero's name, but her father and friends hatched a plot to punish fickle lover Claudio.
After the hard-hearted love-rat learnt of Hero's innocence, Leonato told him the shock had killed her. | Guilty and grief-stricken, Claudio agreed to do whatever the tragic dad told him - only to find himself walking up the aisle with Hero once more!
This time it was a double celebration, as Beatrice and Benedick tied the knot too. Aaah! |
What they said:
"Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps." [Hero, Act 3, Scene 1] "Done to death by slanderous tongues
Was the Hero that here lies" [Claudio, Act 5, Scene 3] |
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