However, she doesn't seem quite so confident when delivering the non-humorous lines, and struggles to match Mr Tennant's obvious natural gift with making Shakespeare's dialogue sound like the next-door neighbour talking over the fence. ^ "Addictive stuff. Please enable javascript to view this site. Much Ado About Nothing. 15 user reviews. David Tennant reveals a talent for slapstick. This production was captured by Digital Theatre live at London's Wyndham's Theatre and starred David Tennant and … Other than that, there's nothing much to quibble about with this version of 'Much Ado' as Josie Rourke's directorial vision is crystal-clear and cohesive with nothing left to chance. The night watch are better here, with John Ramm leading the neighbours as a Rambo-like Constable Dogberry who also highlights the malapropisms to greater effect. With a time traveller in the lead, it was pretty obvious that the location for this version was going to move from the late 16th century. David Tennant is simply superb as Benedick. Two young lovers Claudio and Hero are to be married imminently but the devious scheming of a resentful Prince looks set to thwart the nuptials. All this cipher can do is look pained and ineffective. All that said, this is a strong production. Much Ado About Nothing at Wyndham's theatre: 'Catherine Tate is fluent and funny but on one note. "Julie Carpenter for The Daily Express, External links to full reviews from popular pressThe Guardian - Telegraph - Express - Independent. So, director Josie Rourke has switched the location from Sicily to Gibralter and the time also speeds ahead to the 1980s. The production at the Wyndham Theatre – recorded for DigitalTheatre.com – was handsome and well done; the Greek Package Holiday styling is a little bit Mamma Mia at first, but you overcome that quickly. And she shows that she's more than capable of dealing with other emotions too, for example when her cousin's virtue is questioned in the church by Claudio, she breaks down in tears. David Tennant and Catherine Tate are electric in Shakespeare's romantic comedy. English. 19:58. Along the way, you also get all the Shakespearean joys of disguise, mistaken identity, Elizabethan puns, and … UKTV Play. ^ Birmingham Mail (5 May 2013). It is the story of Beatrice (Catherine Tate) and Benedick (David Tennant), a couple at first scornful of one another but then tricked into confessing their love. Permission is required for any further use beyond viewing on this site. His work has endured for centuries! The chemistry between Tate and Tennant is as electric as it was when they were sharing the Universe in Doctor Who. Proudly singing Hey Nonny, Nonny and rocking dungarees and white naval dress uniform makes up for a multitude of sins. David Tennant and Catherine Tate are electric in Shakespeare's romantic comedy. It played to sold-out houses and received wide critical acclaim. Laura Humphreys | On 04, Jul 2014. "Charles Spencer for The Daily Telegraph, "The pairing of David Tennant as Benedick with Catherine Tate as Beatrice is a marriage that, if not made in heaven, is certainly cemented by television and pays off superbly. Theatre Fan? This summer, David Tennant and Catherine Tate appear together on stage for the first time in a brand new production of William Shakespeare’s timeless comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Written by. However, this is an independent publication: we take care not to let commercial relationships dictate the editorial stance of content or the writing staff. There's first-class support here from Adam James as the benevolent Don Pedro, and Jonathan Coy as Leonato switches effortlessly from genial host, to embittered parent when his daughter's virtue is wrongly brought into question. 160 mins. Beatrice and Benedick fuel their mutual distain with jade's tricks and sparring, dancing their dislike through the merry wedding arrangements of Beatrice's cousin Hero and the young captain Claudius. The summer of 2011 saw David Tennant and Catherine Tate appear together on stage for the first time in a brand new production of William Shakespeare’s timeless comedy Much Ado About Nothing. How is there such confusion? This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as: In their own ways, both are excellent productions with the two pairs of leading actors turning-in admirable performances. Language. The oldest and first dedicated online London theatre guide, News and tickets for over 250 West End & off-West End shows, Follow us for the latest theatre newsTwitter Facebook Instagram. Even so, under the humerous façade, we discover an honest man with a real sense of justice who doesn't hesitate to put his friendship with Claudio on the line when he thinks his friend has wrongly maligned an innocent woman. Much Ado About Nothing (2014) Part 17. 81% based on 50 reviews. Remote control icon created by Bjoin Andersson from Noun Project. The David Tennant and Catherine Tate partnership began in a 2006 episode of Doctor Who; he was the tenth Doctor, she was […] much ado about nothing, david tennant, catherine tate, shakespeare. Type-casting gives audiences what they know, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. David Tennant and Catherine Tate star in this populist Much Ado that has both intelligence and heart. David Tennant and Catherine Tate created a Benidorm-style party atmosphere in a staging of "Much Ado About Nothing" at Wyndham's Theatre in London. The title page from the first quarto edition of Much Adoe About Nothing, printed in 1600. Much Ado About Nothing, Wyndham’s Theatre, review. IvoryRick90795400. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. Digital Theatre review: Much Ado About Nothing (David Tennant and Catherine Tate). It's important that Beatrice and Hero live in a household with no older female authority figure. But it simply must be said: Much Ado is much over-rated. A cynical ploy to get bums on seats or not, they work well as Beatrice and Benedick. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599. VODzilla.co is partly funded through affiliate marketing, which means that clicking some links on this page may generate income for the site. "Henry Hitchings for The Evening Standard, " Tennant is certainly on great sparring form as Benedick. It’s ever-so-slightly too much hard work to follow. Starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate as Benedict and Beatrice, Josie Rourke’s award winning production of Much Ado About Nothing … I think this version is the funnier of the two with both Catherine Tate and David Tennant in terrific comic form. 16 May 2011. Images on VODzilla.co are authorised and subject to restrictions. Shakespeare’s Globe has got in with the first of two Much Ado productions and raises the bar high with an exuberant production. Updated 16/6 It’s hard to criticise Shakespeare once you have passed the age of 16 and multiple boring classroom readings of Romeo and Juliet. Much Ado about Nothing is commonly considered one of Shakespeare’s strongest comedies. Tate, in her Shakespeare debut, excels most when she’s being scornful...Overall this wonderfully accessible production is a bit like the decade it’s set in: Brash and over the top but with the power to totally draw you in. Much Ado About Nothing casts the lovers Benedick and Beatrice in a witty war of words while the young Claudio is tricked into believing his love Hero has been unfaithful in this play that combines robust humor with explorations on honor and shame. MOVIE REVIEW: "Much Ado About Nothing" As a fan of both Shakespeare and of Joss Whedon, I was delighted to hear that the latter had decided to tackle the former in film form. And Tom Bateman is a devilishly handsome Claudio who will, no doubt, have admirers swooning in the aisles. Comparisons are often invidious, but here's a rare chance to compare two productions of the same play, both on at the same time. David Tennant … This review has been added to the Reviews page . The set is a mass of Venetian shutters, almost from floor to ceiling and surrounding the acting area. Both David Tennant and Catherine Tate play their parts perfectly. The strength of Shakespeare is so often in the ensemble, but they fade into the background of this famous double act. Two young lovers, Claudio and Hero, are to be married imminently but the devious scheming of a resentful Prince looks set to thwart the nuptials. He makes Shakespeare's language seem so natural you might think that it's the kind of stuff spoken on the streets of Glasgow on a daily basis. Last week, I saw 'Much Ado About Nothing' at the Globe, and now here's another version playing at Wyndham's, right in the heart of the West End. Well, the idea is that the soldiers are now sailors and the fleet is taking a much-needed period of respite, presumably from the Falklands conflict. Gibralter? I absolutely love Much Ado About Nothing, it is one of my favorite Shakespeare works, and this cast does it so well. The result is deliciously entertaining. 35 critic reviews. "Witty and inventive production...Rourke’s production has a freshness and wit about it that is often irresistible...This, in short, is populist Shakespeare with both intelligence and heart. He was a genius! This production was captured by Digital Theatre live at Wyndham's Theatre in London’s West End. Sucking the soul out of Shakespeare: Despite the performances of Catherine Tate (Beatrice) and David Tennant (Benedick), Much Ado About Nothing has lost its heart. Best of BBC iPlayer Unlike in A Comedy of Errors or Twelfth Night, disguise and mistaken identity are thrown around in this play wildly, making you wonder if all these people have macular degeneration of some kind. A winner. University of Glasgow. It’s well worth catching this play if you missed it in the theatre – and even if you did see it, it bears repeat viewing. "Paul Taylor for The Independent, "There is much to love here and nothing to fault.Don Mackay for The Daily Mirror, "Her [Josie Rourke] production of this play about rumour, honour and deception ripples with originality. The result is deliciously entertaining. Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare Directed by Josie Rourke (stage) TV recording directed by Robert Delamere Designed by Rob Jones Wyndhams Theatre, London 2011 Now available on DIGITAL THEATRE PLUS via YouTube (£7.99 for one play, £9.99 monthly subscription) CAST David Tennant - Benedick Catherine Tate- Beatrice, Leonato's niece with Tom Bateman -… It is the story of Beatrice (Catherine Tate) and Benedick (David Tennant), a couple at first scornful of one another but then tricked into confessing their love. "Dr Who star David Tennant given his big break by Midland theatre boss". He is more derisive than some but balances this by playing the clown with manic energy, displaying great comic timing and emphasis, while moving naturally from glib to grave. Catherine Tate employs her brilliant comic timing to maximum effect, drawing out words as if speaking to an idiot when she's sparring with Benedick. All original content © Copyright 2021 VODzilla.co Limited. Retrieved 4 February 2009. So far, so fairly good.' They are helped by Josie Rourke's decision to set the action in early 1980s Gibraltar: a world of crisp navy uniforms, clear class distinctions and high-spirited post-Falklands partying...Tennant is especially good at showing Benedick's transition from the self-conscious madcap of the officers' mess into a man capable of love...Tate gives an excellent account of Beatrice as the kind of larky, high-spirited woman who uses her wisecracking gifts as a defence against emotional engagement"Michael Billington for The Guardian, "A rare mis-step for the admirable Josie Rourke, this production feels effortful and inauthentic...the production is either thin or crazy. Or rather, upstaged; not by Tate and Tennant, necessarily, but by the production (and the digital theatre recording) following their every move at the expense of the supporting players. Long Day's Journey into Night, Dundee Rep," The Herald, 20 April 1994. Along the way, you also get all the Shakespearean joys of disguise, mistaken identity, Elizabethan puns, and people swearing against marriage only to get married almost immediately. It's typical of a production that is over-interpreted and insufficiently thought-through. David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture December 31, 2019 Much Ado About Nothing is one of the few movies of recent years that could leave its audiences weeping with joy.