PERFORMANCE/RECORDING: Much Ado About Nothing (Wyndham's Theatre, 2011)

 A great spin on my favourite Shakespeare comedy, recorded in London in 2011, and starring Catherine Tate and David Tennant. This is one of those productions that move the play to a modern setting, but retain all the original dialogue. This one is (somewhat randomly) set in Gibraltar in the 1980s, but it works so well. Catherine Tate especially truly shines, as both a comic and tragic actress. The way she manages to combine very contemporary behaviour (such as drinking, un-ladylike lounging, partying) with the original text is amazing, and gives a great example of how Shakespeare can continuously be re-read and reinterpreted. My absolute favourite scene was when Benedick (Tennant) 'overhears' his friends talking about how much Beatrice loves him, continuously giving himself away, and they continuously struggle to pretend they don't notice him. The physical dimension of the situation is exploited to its full potential, and is absolutely perfect. The corresponding scene with Beatrice is less well-done. And the chemistry between Tate and Tennant is incredible. Nothing will ever make me like the Claudio and Hero plot, but I mostly ignored it as far as possible.