The National Theatre doesn't seem to do much Shakespeare these days so I was keen to see 'Much Ado About Nothing', one of my favourites. I saw it at the National years ago with Zoe Wannamaker and Simon Russell Beale and that was my favourite version until I saw Meera Syal's Indian village version in 2012. Zoe got me chuckling but Meera made me laugh out loud. So I had high hopes for this new version.
This new version is set in a Mediterranean resort with Messina transformed into a luxury hotel in the 1930s so we get an art deco hotel as the set and all the characters dressed in 1930s style. I have to say that I loved the set and costumes, all helping to establish the atmosphere of the place with lots of lavish costumes and lots of changes - that's where the money went on this production. It's a fun show but I think what let it down for me was the cast, particularly the men. That's an awful thing to say, I know, and I enjoyed the show for what it was but it's not a great production of a Shakespeare classic. It's different, but not great.
I need to say that I enjoyed it and I'm pleased I saw it but if you're looking for a Shakespearean production then this isn't it. There are songs and dances in it and at 2 hours 10 minutes (plus an interval) I've got no idea what they cut out to fit in the dance sequences. That's probably why I think of this as a 'show' rather than a 'play'. I don't know if it was the direction but none of the cast seemed to be able to speak Shakespeare. The men's accents seemed to waver between Bradford and Liverpool and the women often seemed shrill in trying to project their voices. There's nothing wrong with an accent but be consistent. It reminded me of something Glenda Jackson said a few weeks ago when I saw her and she said that the cast of her 'Lear' were all experienced in television and film but had never worked in theatre and were scared of trying to project their voices.
The 'stars' of the show were Katherine Parkinson (from 'The IT Crowd' on telly) and John Heffernan (who I saw in an unfortunate version of 'Edward II' at the National Theatre years ago). They played Beatrice and Benedict, the main characters. I couldn't always follow what Katherine said as she shouted out her lines quickly in what I assume she thought was a comic manner while doing some manic movements that were supposed to be comic. I always find it frustrating when people in Shakespeare plays can't speak his verse properly and bring it to life - can't they hear themselves?
While I have lots of criticisms of this show, y'know what? I enjoyed it. And that's the main reason for going to the theatre. It was a fun way to spend a few hours and that's a good thing these days. Plus I had ice cream at the half time interval!
