Much Ado About Nothing?

By Robert Iles - 10th Jun 2004

I have to admit, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Much Ado again, about a year ago I saw a local amateur company do it in the open air. It was a dire evening, their inability to use the space or understand the language resulted in a humourless, stilted, dull production. But this time I was going to see Creation Theatre Company, and I need not have worried, I had a great night out!

This is a comedy of love and betrayal, of misdirection and misinterpretation. It contains some truly great and funny lines but in the wrong hands it can become almost impenetrable, in Charlotte Conquest’s production we are never left wondering what is happening, she has given it a freshness and life that makes it almost feel like a piece of modern comedy writing.

Tom Peters and Elizabeth Hopley were superb in the lead roles of Benedick and Beatrice finding all the comedy (and more) of Shakespeare’s words delivered with a speed and energy that drove the whole play forward. Perhaps ’Kill Claudio!’ didn’t have quite the venom it should (the audience laughed) but these were memorable, sophisticated and well crafted performances. In all cases the doubling required by this small cast worked, despite some taking up to four parts I found them distinct and unobtrusive. Justin Webb’s Dogberry was a genuine delight, credible to the point that you genuinely

As always, I found Creation’s presentation of the language excellent, the text being delivered in a relaxed but clear style easily audible and very accessible.

The play was presented in the open air with staged seating (not comfortable but cushions and blankets are available) using a set built around a large tree. A red acting area set in the sand, looking like a bullring, with very simple staging around and a balcony area. Imaginative use was also made of the large area of parkland behind the stage to create entrances (was that a homage to the great spaghetti westerns I spotted) and off-line acting spaces.

But it is the finale I shall most remember. Unexpected, clever and immensely funny, I laughed out loud not only at the time but all the way home. What did they do? I’m not going to say, go see it yourself and have a great night out.