Much Ado About Nothing Reviews

Natt from Brighton, UK

A MUST SEE!

Saw the performance last night and honestly, it's one of the best incarnations of Much Ado that's been around in a long time! David Tennant is brilliant-- playing a very quick witted, if slightly manic, Benedick. Whilst Catherine Tate is a delightful Beatrice. Together they have enough chemistry to make it a believable interaction. The same praise has to be given to the other cast members. Especially Tom Bateman who gives a very strong performance as Claudio. This play has everything that will keep all of the family entertained.

Sue Kershaw from Stratford-upon-Avon. UK

BRILLIANT FUN

What a shame that some people are such Shakespeare snobs ! Shakepeare wrote for the common people (not the elite) and in a way that they would have understood. David Tennant showed what a real gift for comedy he has, and it was obvious that he and Catherine Tate were having a ball. The eavesdropping scenes were very funny and had the entire audience in stitches. The staging, costumes, and music were great. Plaudits must go to the other leads too. My only tiny gripe is that Claudio seemed to get over the news of Heros death rather too quickly. Otherwise fab evening. I've seen it twice and would happily see it again.

Alexia Daniels from Southsea, Hampshire, UK

OUTSTANDING!

I had the absolute pleasure of watching Much Ado About Nothing yesterday and it was just outstanding. Although I know many professional reviewers had much to say which was negative about Catherine Tate, but they were spectacularly wrong - she is the perfect Beatrice and coupled with a Benedick who at one point had me laughing so much I thought I would expire, it is the perfect way to spend a few hours getting reaquainted with the Bard at his best. A wonderful cast who brought so much have been somewhat eclipsed with the justified publicity of the leads, but were also outstanding. The only reason it is not a five was because there was a little too much chopping about with the script for me and a couple of frankly, daft and unnecessary additions. Nothing major, or in any way to detract from the show, but for me it was a silly blot on what was wonderful and utterly recommended.

Joanne C from Widnes, Cheshire

O WOE IS ME TO HAVE SEEN WHAT I HAVE SEEN...

Was at the matinee Saturday. Now I went to see Shakespeare not the Catherine Tate Show. Catherine, why on earth did you feel the need to revert to a sketch show character every 5 minutes? By the interval it was seriously getting on my nerves. Much Ado is not my favourite play but I really thought that David and Catherine could pull this off (my only other reference being Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson) and in all honesty David was beyond brilliant and had me almost crying with laughter - the comic timing was spot on. But Catherine what happened? All I could think was why anyone would want to marry your Beatrice! That said I came out smiling because it really is a feel good play and if you can get past the Catherine Tate Show (or in fact if that is what you are expecting to see) it is great. 10/10 David & also John Ramm and Elliot Levey who were fab but 4/10 Catherine. Sorry but you nearly made me regret choosing Much Ado over Betrayal and the gorgeous Douglas Henshall!

Pam from East Grinstead

VERY GOOD..

This is a play I've seen many times over the years and it's Will's best comedy, in my opinion. This is a mostly excellent production with a large and illustrious cast. Both David T and Catherine T steal all the scenes they're in -although she does have an unfortunate tendency to fall back on all her previous characterisations. She's a very fine actress and could surely have created a new one for Beatrice. David, on the other hand (who I've seen before on stage), is staggeringly good, as ever. I'm not sure Will Shakespeare would approve of some of the ways his story has been brought screaming into the 20th century (esp the scene with Boracchio and Margaret - not normally seen at all), but one neat by-product was to allow us to have some sympathy for Claudio after the 'wedding'(usually VERY hard to do !)...and I found I had tears in my eyes as he was reunited with Hero at the end. Overall very enjoyable, well-acted by all (and I LOVED the Watch !!) but occasionally very loud and brash.

TR from Los Angeles, California, USA

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

We saw this production on August 19th and thoroughly enjoyed it. David Tennant's goofy, sincere, passionate Benedick is without question the best part of the show.

Old Albanian from London

THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE

what a lot of snobs there seem to be these days, appalled that people who've never seen Shakespeare before should dare to applaud someone just for coming on. Bet that never happened to Richard Burbage or Will Kempe. I wouldn't say it was definitive Shakespeare but i thought it was on the whole well done. I'm not a fan of resetting, but it seemed to work on this occasion, and it was worth it just to see DT in his dress whites. Having seen the Open Air Theatre version 2 years ago it was an interesting contrast, particularly the very different, but no more slapstick, aproach this time to the hidden Beatrice and Benedick overhearing what they were meant to. I didn't spot Nan, but there were clearly several bits of familiar inflection from Katherine Tate, but is there any reason why there shouldn't be? It's not as if shs changed the lines to ask if she was bovvered. I was particularly impressed by Claudio, making his debut.

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