Much Ado About Nothing: Ellen Terry (1847-1928) as Beatrice

Terry appears more at ease as Beatrice at a highly sentimental moment (3.1.1) than with her as a fierce proto-feminist at other points. Of her performance in New York in 1883 William Winter wrote in the Tribune: "She permeates the raillery of Beatrice with an indescribable charm of mischievous sweetness. The silver arrows of her pungent wit have no barb, for evidently she does not mean that they shall really wound. Her appearance and carriage are beautiful, and her tones melt into music. There is no hint of the virago here, and even the sarcasm is superficial. It is archness playing over kindness that is presented here."