STRATFORD - The Stratford Library says it's "offering the best of the Bard all summer long."
That's because the popular Hudson Shakespeare Company of New Jersey will continue it's 3-play program in Stratford with the Bard's war of the sexes comedy, "Much Ado About Nothing" at 2 p.m. July 10.
The presentation is free and open to the public and performed outside in the library's scenic amphitheatre area, the library said in a statement.
Details, according to the statement, are: "When wars are done, a young man's thoughts turn to matters of love but not everyone wants to join in on the fun. The young Count Claudio (Bjorn Pederson) has recently ended a campaign under his commander and friend Don Pedro (Woody Gaul). As the army returns, they are heartily greeted by Leonato (Tom Cox), the governor of Messina, and his family. Claudio wants to pursue a romance with Hero (Monica O'Malley), the daughter of Leonato, but the budding romance is side tracked by a romance gone sour with Hero's cousin Beatrice (Noelle Fair) and Claudio's best friend, Benedick (Jon Ciccarelli). The two former lovers have not taken the split well and engage in a merry war of words and comic jabs to get back at one another."
The final play in the summer Shakespeare series will be “The Tempest” on August 14. Patrons should bring a lawn chair or blanket to spread in the amphitheatre prior to the 2p.m. show time, the statement said.
If it rains, performances will take place in the library’s air-conditioned Lovell Room.
For more information, call the Stratford Library Public Relations and Programming Office at 203-385-4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

In the photo: Claudio (Bjorn Pederson, center) and his bethrothed Hero (Monica O'Malley) with former loverse Beatrice (Noelle Fair) and Benedick (Jon Ciccarelli) in the Hudson Shakespeare Company production of "Much Ado About Nothing".