A Review of Much Ado About Nothing--Wyndhams Theater, London

I gave myself a big birthday present last week and went to London to see David Tennant in Much Ado About Nothing.  Because of some circumstances somewhat beyond my control I was able to see the play twice during the time I was in town.  It was my favorite actor in my favorite play and it did not disappoint.

David was so energetic, so in the moment, so charming and charismatic in the role—both times.  The play was set in the 1980’s in Gibraltar, though the new location was never expressly stated in the play—the soldiers were still visitors in Messina, as Shakespeare wrote.  There were a lot of fun references to the 80s—a Maggie Thatcher mask, a Princess Di wedding dress, etc. and some really wonderful music very reminiscent of the decade but with the Bard’s words.  The play was hilarious, more so than I have ever seen it.

The supporting players were for the most part very good.  I especially liked Tom Bateman as Claudio—a role which often is very bland and forgettable—and Adam James as Don Pedro.  You could really feel his pain when he was rejected by Beatrice and ended up the only one without a partner at the end.  I was not very fond of Elliot Levey as Don John.  He was very mannered and I never lost the impression that he was an actor trying to be someone else—not a good sign. 

I like Catherine Tate fine.  I’m not British so I can’t say I have seen her in a lot of things other than Dr. Who, where I thought she was very good.  But in the performances I saw she seemed very languid--like she was tired of playing this part and wished the run were over.  When she was hoisted about the stage for the gulling scene she soon became tired and just hung there—and it seemed like that was her attitude overall. That compared to David’s gulling scene which took a lot of comic timing and physical dexterity.  And he did it perfectly both times—to the point where I was as surprised the second time and as entertained as the first time I saw it.

I know David and Catherine are great friends and their partnership was one of the reasons—and likely the biggest reason—for the play being done at all, but I couldn’t help think about what sparks might have flown if someone who was really present in the play—who had the same energy level and sexiness as David Tennant-- were playing opposite him.  That would be something to see.  David had to create a lot of the excitement himself.  When in the last scene Benedick and Beatrice finally kissed, that should have been a big catharsis for the audience, but it wasn’t.  Even for the dance in the end, David was jumping all around and having a whale of a good time—Catherine was not as enthusiastic and again seemed tired.

I don’t know if Catherine was having a bad week—maybe she started the run on the same energy level as David-- but they really seemed mismatched the two times I saw the play.  Getting David Tennant in a big romance on stage should have been very stimulating, if you know what I mean, but instead it was a tour de force performance played to a performer who did not give as good as she got.

Having said that, it was still very well acted, very funny and very entertaining all around.  Now if it can only come to New York with--sorry—a new actress.