MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Haymarket till 22 August. Then Newcastle-upon-Tyne to
by William Shakespeare
RSC at Theatre Royal, Haymarket to 22nd August
then Theatre Royal, Newcastle 24th September 3 October 2002
Runs 2 hours 40 minutes One interval
TICKETS 0870 609 1110
Review Ian Willox 14th August
This Sicilian thing: lucid, funny, moving, endearing - a deep collective knowledge of the text.
Shakespeare's play is about Sicilian honour, deceit and love, by turns a comedy, a tragedy and a romance. Well, to be specific, two romances.
This production is a justification for the Royal Shakespeare Company's existence a deep collective knowledge of the text resulting in a lucid, funny, moving, endearing and satisfying evening's entertainment.
The first half is a farce. Don Pedro and his army are welcomed back from the wars by Leonato, Governor of Sicily. Don Pedro (Clive Wood as camp as an ambidextrous Norman Wisdom) brings his Count Claudio together with Hero, Leonato's daughter, to secure their marriage. Against the backdrop of the impending nuptials Beatrice (Harriet Walter) and Benedick (Nicholas le Prevost) spar and scorn like Hepburn and Tracy. Then everything goes horribly wrong.
The second half begins as a tragedy. Claudio is persuaded that his wife to be is a slut and abandons her for dead at the altar. Beatrice and Benedick realise they are in love. But all ends well. Claudio redeems himself. Hero is restored to life. A double marriage is only moments away.
The ease of this production hides the effort. This is perhaps most evident in the cast: the more experienced the actors the more they shine. Harriet Walters and Nicholas le Prevost have both the range and lightness of touch to steer the play. Gary Waldhorn (not a million miles from his role as exasperated father in The Vicar of Dibley) gives Leonato a sympathetic gravitas. But it is in the smaller roles that age really exceeds youth in brilliance. Trevor Martin, as Leonato's elderly brother, is suddenly revealed as a snarling Sicilian defending the family honour with a stiletto. Christopher Benjamin blithely mangles meaning as Dogberry.
It all kept me glued tight fast to my seat.
Leonato, Governor of Messina: Gary Waldhorn
Antonio, his brother: Trevor Martin
Hero, Leonato's daughter: Kirsten Parker
Beatrice, Leonato's niece: Harriet Walter
Margaret, attendant on Hero: Sarah Ball
Ursula, attendant on Hero: Noma Dumezweni
Innogen, the maid: Cristina Barriero
Boys: Lewis Bundy/Daryl Robinson & Steven Charalambous/Ben Westcombe
Friar Francis: William Whymper
The sexton: Julien Ball
Don Pedro, the Prince: Clive Wood
Don John, his bastard brother: Stephen Campbell-Moore
Count Claudio: John Hopkins
Signor Benedick: Nicholas le Prevost
Borachio: John Killoran
Conrade: Ian Drysdale
Balthasar, a singer: Julian Jensen
Dispatch rider: Steve Sarossy
Dogberry: Christopher Benjamin
Verges: Simon Scott
First watchman: Steve Sarossy
Second watchman (George Seacoal): Israel Aduramo
Third watchman (Hugh Oatcake): Ross Waiton
Director: Gregory Doran
Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Lighting: Tim Mitchell
Music: Paul Englishby
Flutes: Christopher Lacey
Clarinet: Victor Slaymark
Guitar/mandolin: Andrew Laing
Violin: Jeff Moore
Cello: Ben Davis
Trumpet: Roderick Tearle
Trombone/euphonium: David Hissey
Keyboard/accordion: Richard Brown
2002-08-16 09:58:15