The ReFashioned Theatre, Selfridges 23 August – 24 September. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
Commissioned by Selfridges to celebrate Shakespeare400, The Faction’s production of Much Ado About Nothing is as slick and stylish as its surroundings. The ReFashioned Theatre, with its traverse stage, mirrors and lighting, has the feel of a fashion show, and the modern costumes fit right in. The simple military uniforms are a particular triumph.
Much Ado About Nothing does what it says on the tin – Claudio falls in love with Hero, he is tricked into believing her unfaithful, seeks revenge, is tricked again into thinking her dead, but everything ends happily once he realises his mistake. Meanwhile, everyone is plotting to unite Beatrice and Benedick, who love to hate each other.
Streamlining the play to 90 minutes without interval, director Mark Leipacher has cut extraneous characters and scenes, creating a production that is full of energy and impetus.
Hero’s father, Leonato, becomes her mother, Leonata, played imperiously by Caroline Langrishe, giving an intriguingly different feel to Leonata’s reactions on hearing the accusations against Hero. Shakespeare’s best written couple, Benedick and Beatrice, are portrayed with great charm by Daniel Boyd and Alison O’Donnell. Boyd is reminiscent of Lord Percy in Blackadder in his comedy style (but that isn’t a criticism): his sweetly snarky awkwardness works wonderfully here as O’Donnell’s Beatrice is full of fire and definitely wears the trousers in this relationship, and the chemistry and timing between the pair is exquisite. O’Donnell’s Scottish accent seems a little out of place at first, but insults and sarcasm always sound funnier and sharper in Celtic tones.
The scene where Benedick “overhears” that Beatrice loves him is hilarious, with Langrishe showing her playful side, and Boyd displaying masterful physical comedy skills. The corresponding scene, when O’Donnell’s Beatrice hears of Benedick’s feelings, takes the physical comedy even further, and O’Donnell is hysterical.
Harry Lister Smith and Lowri Izzard make a sweet Claudio and Hero, Jude Owusu is a strong but funny Don Pedro, Tala Gouveia is a very millennial Margaret, Jamie Maclachlan is a slimy Borachio and a serene Friar (although he does seem to be officiating the marriage in his dressing gown) and Christopher Hughes is full of malice as Don John, and brilliantly gaping-mouthed stupid as the watchman. Meera Syal appears onscreen as a News reporter, delivering important messages, while Simon Callow and Rufus Hound Are Dogberry and Verges, overseeing the watch on CCTV. This may seem like a gimmick to get big names into the show, but it actually matches the style of the production and slots into the play seamlessly. And let’s face it, any chance to watch Callow, even in this tiny part, is a bonus.
Lighting director Chris Withers’ design is bold, stark and in your face, with the sides of the stage and pillars in green, blue, red or yellow depending on the setting. One fantastic moment involved Don John bemoaning his being “enfranchised with a clog” – here an ankle tag – and sticking his leg over the edge of the stage, triggering alarms and red flashing lights.
The Faction’s production is fast paced and funny, with a fantastic cast. This intelligent and exciting adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing is well worth seeing.