Teens Writing for Teens, the 5th

The opening of Much Ado About Nothing is intriguing, and all-round funny, as you're taken to early 1980s Gibraltar: this decision made by Josie Rourke.

The grand entrance of none other than David Tennant is not missed as he toots along in his golf buggy, designed like a traditional London tour bus, and presents himself wearing a crisp guard uniform, along with his men. He delivers great strong scottish one liners and chest-heaving laughs from the audience. And we're only fifteen minutes in.

The pairing of David Tennant as Benedick with Catherine Tate as Beatrice is perfect. They truly steal the show, with the story of how Beatrice's cousin, Hero, on her wedding-eve, has supposedly betrayed Claudio with another man moving flawlessly between their antics. We're then shown a whole new hen-party scene in which we see Hero's maid, wearing her mistress's wig, enjoying some noisy fun in disco-club darkness.
This being Shakespeare's funniest plays, it certainly lives up to its expectations.

Tennant is perfect at showing Benedick's change from the self-conscious fool of the officers' mess into a man experiencing love. Even if it is the weirdest love connection anyone's ever seen.
Tate also gives an excellent show of Beatrice as the kind of casual, high-spirited woman who uses her wittiness as a defence against her true feelings and engagement: more noticeably when Benedick turns up at Leonato's party in female costume, she goes dressed as a man.
Seeking to show Claudio's shame over his ill-treatment of Hero, you see him attempting suicide at her tomb until she supposedly appears as a ghost.
He later finds Hero alive and well, but not before he's persuaded to marry her “twin sister” as a substitute.

On top of all this, the spectacular cast of Tom Bateman and Sarah MacRae as a heartwarming Claudio and Hero and Elliott Levey as a closeted Don John make for an over-all entertaining performance and you leave feeling somewhat lighter inside.
And despite having seen it well into it's second month of shows, there was no let down and their performance stayed lifted throughout.

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Zoealea said:

Kathryn. You saw David Tennant in the play? 0.o

*not faaaaair.*

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Allaboutwords13 said:

Anyone got a comment on the review I did? Anyone? Because I need to know so I can email it to them.

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