Much Ado About Nothing review - Shakespeare comedy reaches a happy ending
★★★
Only the brave risk staging a play outdoors in Britain, even if it is the so-called summer. It’s either bravery or luck, although I believe it was Shakespeare who called fortune a fickle thing.
For an amateur group like the Swan Theatre Company, perhaps there is a third option in a passion for the arts and despite whatever the bard himself claims, perhaps Much Ado About Nothing evades fortune due to its witty comedy and sunny disposition, no matter the weather… and maybe someone prayed hard enough because there wasn’t a rain cloud in sight on opening night.
Directing this piece was Jacquie Waterfield, who was also responsible for the set design alongside Matt Baker, who also helped construct the set and performed as the hilarious Dogberry (talk about efficiency). Simple but elegant, the audience was roped off into two areas with a central aisle, just like a wedding scene in true Shakespearean Comedy fashion. The fences enclosing the space were naturally covered in trees, centre stage there was a small stone fountain and fake stone Cupid statue painted to look real enough, perfectly round potted fruit trees dotted the stage and a white tent just off stage left blended in very well whilst hosting the cast and crew; the design added to the overall charm of the play.
Acting-wise, the main couple of Benedick and Beatrice—Andrew Perkins and Annalisa Foster respectively—were without a doubt the most entertaining duo of the night, and rightfully so. Perkins did jump the gun a bit in the beginning as he rattled off his lines, but once Foster arrived the pair fell into an even, effortless rhythm. A special mention must also go out to Gary Day’s powerful portrayal of the villainous Don John, and Jackie Horrocks as the abbess; though her role be but little, it be fierce.
I assumed the dress code alluded to a traditional play staged around Shakespeare’s own time, only to find the Dons arrive in modern day suit and tie, and the Watch looking like a cross between American cowboys and Australians in the Outback. As for the music, the live instrumental and opera singing between Jessica Hallett and Sarah Dowding was wonderful, until what I can only assume was next door deciding it had to get the chainsaw and chop down a tree then and there. I guess fortune decided good weather had to be balanced out somehow, and it’s lucky Much Ado is a comedy because the absurdity of it all might have actually added something. In fact, combined with the few bits of physical comedy there was (Perkins’ head floating above the headless Cupid statue was memorable, to say the least), I think this production would have excelled if it leant further into the comedic themes.
But despite a few noticeable fumbles with lines, the cast gave a heartfelt performance and the crew as a whole should pat themselves on the back for a flawed but highly enjoyable production.
Review originally published 30/07/24 at The Place Theatre