5 STARS, April 13 – May 6. The Rose Theatre's production of Much Ado Nothing gives an imaginative Mafia spa twist to a much-loved Shakespearean classic, says Alan Long
We actually caught up with Mel Giedroyc ahead of her performance as Beatrice in this production of Much Ado About Nothing, to read the full interview click here.
Villains are foiled, lovers wed and the play ends with dancing. But at the centre of this famously funny entertainment there are moments high drama, deep anguish and the temporary disgrace and death of a principal character.
The story is of two sharply contrasting couples. Between Beatrice & Benedick there is a ‘merry war’ of witty insults and disparaging jokes about each other; both are sophisticated and cynical scorners of romantic love but are tricked into loving each other. Each eavesdrops on a conversation staged for their benefit, which seems to make clear that the object of their disdain is in truth in love with them.
Mark Douet
Mark Douet
Hero & Claudio are naïve, innocent and conventionally in love. Hero is passive, obedient and unquestioning. Claudio too, is ready to accept the guidance of his elders about how to progress towards matrimony. Any impediments to their shared wish to be united must come from outside. Their misfortune is to attract the resentful attentions of an evil plotter: Claudio is deceived into believing that Hero has been unfaithful – the wedding ceremony is disastrously disrupted by his passionate and insulting accusations. Hero fiercely rebuts the allegations, then faints and is later reported to have died.
The crimes of the plotter and his henchmen are investigated by Constable Dogberry, hilariously pompous, obsequious and incompetent, and a rampant perpetrator of malapropisms. Despite his faults and those of his bumbling band of watchmen, the evildoers are soon arrested, the plot uncovered and Hero shown to have been entirely innocent. A second wedding is held in which Hero is revealed to be alive – ‘She died only while her slander lived’ – and all ends well.
Mark Douet
Mark Douet
This is a fine rendition of a great comedy which has its audience laughing happily most of the time. The comic complications of romantic love appear to be the main subject, but the potential for romance to sour and things to go tragically wrong is well realised too – there are some shocking and genuinely moving moments.
The Mafia setting in a luxury spa hotel brings out the patriarchal power and petty brutalities of a society in which women were expected to obey their fathers and husbands without complaint or hesitation. But this is nicely undercut by Beatrice, in many ways to be a very modern woman, who asserts a preference and an intention (thus implying a right) to enjoy life without a man or the obligations of matrimony.
Mark Douet
A brilliant ensemble performance delivered with unfailing energy and panache – they all seemed to have great fun and we did too! Mel Giedroyc as Beatrice is one of the great highlights, communicating with warmth and charm and a range of facial expression and comic poses. John Hopkins was an adept foil to her verbal attacks though often outdone by them. And Stewart Wright seems very likely to prove an unforgettable and celebrated Dogberry. Altogether, a thrilling and magical evening of theatre.
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