Ever since having fond memories of studying it in school, 'Much Ado About Nothing' became one of my favourites of Shakespeare's plays. Love everything about it, though it is very difficult to make Hero and Claudio interesting, because there is so much fun and charm, particularly great characters in Beatrice and Benedick, a story that never lets up on the entertainment value and Shakespeare's text is some of his loveliest and most amusing.
Did have initial doubts before seeing this production of 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Not with David Tennant, who is no stranger to Shakespeare and has a real understanding of his style and characters, evident in his very memorable interpretations of Hamlet and Richard II (both for the Royal Shakespeare Company). But namely because of seeing 'Much Ado About Nothing' in modern dress, before reminding myself that there are many effective non-traditional Shakespeare productions, and whether Catherine Tate would be well suited to Beatrice. Seeing it, this was a very pleasant surprise and a very good production, a few staging missteps but with wonderful performances.
Visually the production was a lot more appealing and less distracting than expected. Really did think that setting the action in 1980s Gibraltar would not work and would jar with the words and have seen too many updated productions of opera and theatre where the costumes especially look cheap and too much of a mish-mash. The setting actually was quite striking with very effective use of the pillars. The costumes are also very vibrant without being cheap and fit the 80s setting authentically. The music is also effective and fits the setting just as well without being constant or overbearing. There is some nice photography too that is intimate enough while also opening up the action just about enough.
Josie Rourke on the most part does a very confident directing job, everything moves along at a cracking pace and there is nothing here that affects any cohesion. The staging especially shines in the comedic moments, of which there are plenty of in 'Much Ado About Nothing', comedic moments are that crackle and sparkle in wit and don't feel overplayed or strained. Underneath all the comedy, there is also a big amount of heart and affectingly done without again being too overwrought (apart from one point).
All the performances pretty much are wonderful, with the high point being Tennant as Benedick. On top of being very funny, he is also arrogant yet also loyal and believable too in Benedick's want for justice later on. Apart from one scene, Tate excels and provides a shrewish and witty Beatrice while also giving her heart. Their chemistry absolutely scintillates, both absolutely relishing the verbal sparring. Adam James' Don Pedro is another standout, benevolent, noble and at times scheming (though never in a malicious sense). Sarah McRae's Hero is radiant and Tom Bateman manages the very difficult feat of making Claudio interesting and likeable. Elliot Levey is a subtly sinister Don John and the Night Watch are not too overacted.
Not everything is perfect. While liking the direction on the whole, a few touches are very overdone and completely out of place, one also being very randomly introduced. Ones that have been mentioned already, also didn't see the point to the gender swapping in the masque scene.
While Tate is hugely impressive as Beatrice on the whole as said, she doesn't quite work in her big dramatic scene with Tennant. Her emotions here became too histrionic.
Overall, very good and worth sighing for. 8/10
