Much Ado About Nothing Review National Theatre 2007

Genre: Comedy
Opened 18 Dec 2007
Written: William Shakespeare
Directed: Nicholas Hytner
Produced: National Theatre
Cast: Zoe Wanamaker (Beatrice), Simon Russell Beale (Benedick)
Synopsis: Promise of a masked ball hastens the men from battle to the festive house of Leonato, where beautiful, wealthy young Hero catches the eye of Claudio, the dashing soldier-boy. Instantly attracted to each other, they rush into marriage. There is no such hurry for seasoned singles Beatrice and Benedick, whose scorn for love and penchant for verbal sparring provoke their scheming friends to plot a happy ending.

What the popular press had to say.....
NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Zoe Wanamaker and Simon Russell Beale make a far bigger and better splash in Nicholas Hytner's alluring production of Much Ado About Nothing than I dared hope." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Very funny and psychologically acute revival." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "The virtue of Nicholas Hytner's shining production is its ability to strike a balance between the play's disturbing qualities and its touchingly funny study of two natural singletons achieving maturity through love." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Wonderfully funny, but also deeply touching production." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Gently hilarious, subtly serious, always delicate revival."

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Guardian
The Times
Daily Telegragh

Production photo by Catherine Ashmore