Much Ado Abouth Nothing

I was thirteen the first time I saw a Shakespeare play. A university near our house is home to the Georgia Shakespeare Festival and wonderful company of talented Shakespeare actors.  I'm not sure how we found out about them, I'm sure it was through something to do with homeschooling, but for whatever reason, I'm glad we did.

From that year on, I saw a Shakespeare play almost every year. The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream (three times over the years), Macbeth, and A Comedy of Errors at The Shakespeare Tavern.  There is nothing quite like seeing Shakespeare performed. Sure you can read Shakespere and even watch a few movies trying to capture the essance of the Bard, but nothing quite lives up to a live performance. Shakespeare was meant to be performed.

I learned over the years that whether set in the eighties, modern day, or Renissance England, or if Prospero was instead Prospera, Shakespeare was timeless. As is clearly evident by the many places you can see his plays todays and the many films that have been done over the years. I say all this because I want the reader to understand that seeing this play wasn't just about who was in it, but who wrote it as well.

And so, as I made my preperations for my trip to England, I couldn't be more thrilled to know that I would be able to see not only two of my favorite actors perform, but that they would be performing Shakespeare.

I'm sure that had they been in some play that no one had ever heard of before I probably still would have gone. But I love Shakespeare. No I don't like sitting down and reading his plays or sonnets, but invite out to an evening at the theater, and I'm there. So Saturday night was not just about who was performing, it was what they were performing.

I was first introduced to David Tennant and Catherine Tate together through a small sketch they did together for a charity in England called Red Nose Day. Catherine Tate is a well known sketch artist in England and Tennant was rising to popularity playing Doctor Who, a long running British scifi show. It was a sketch that I could watch over and over again and always laugh at. You can see it here: http://youtu.be/WxB1gB6K-2A

Then it was announced that David and Catherine would be together on Doctor Who. I was skeptical at first as Catherine Tate is known more for her comedy and I wasn't sure she would work well in the Doctor Who environment. I had no idea how wrong I was. Season four of Doctor Who remains my favorite season because of her. She was brilliant. She brought humor and seriousness to the show. When her character left, it was like loosing a friend. A year later, Tennant also left Doctor Who.

After that, I never thought I'd get to seem them together again, much less live. So when it was announced that they would be starring together in 'Much Ado About Nothing', I was thrilled. David had performed a year or so earlier in 'Hamelt', proving once again his true talent for Shakespearen acting, and the most I thought I could hope for was the BBC would record the performance and air it like they had done with 'Hamlet'.

So when I realized that I'd be able to come to England at the same time that 'Much Ado' would be playing, I knew that there was no way I could miss it.

Last night, as I settled into my seat at the Wyndam Theater, I had no doubt that they would both live up to the expectations I had for their performances. And sure enough, they did.

'Much Ado About Nothing' is a comedy. Something both David Tennant and Catherine Tate are brilliant at. They, along with the rest of the cast, shone brilliantly. The blocking, the acting, every single moment, was well timed and perfect. Even if I had not known who David and Catherine were, I would have loved it. Because the play wasn't just David and Catherine, there was still the rest of the cast. And they should not be forgotten because without them, there would have been no play.

If there is one thing that is always fun about a good Shakespeare comedy, it's how the director interprets the scene. Often in his comedys, a character will over hear a conversation they weren't supposed to. And for 'Much Ado About Nothing', it's Beatrice (Tate) and Benedict (Tennant) who at different times over hear their friends talking about them. But instead of staying off to the side to listen, they both perform a great amount of physical reactions as they try and avoid being seen by those talking about them. The director made the best use of the entire stage as well as the great skills of his performers. David also kept his Scottish accent which I loved!!

The play ended to a standing ovation and the cast returned three times to bow to the crowd.

Though I was sneezing and sniffiling through the whole performance, I am so thankful for the opportunity to see such an amazing, wonderful and brilliant performance. It's not often one gets to see such talented and amazing actors in Shakespeare and it is a night that I'll remember for years to come.

I did not go to the stage door to meet them as I had found out earlier that day they would not be signing that night. Though we had arrived at the theater earlier when the afternoon show had been let out and I was able to snap a couple of pictures of the two. I am determined to go back later and be there for their arrival at the stage door. I'm still a fangirl at heart and really want the chance to meet them. :-)