THEATRE REVIEW: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING @ Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

5/5

A Midsummer Night's Dream

160 Mins. Starring: Ekow Quartey, Amalia Vitale, Lydia Fleming, Adam Wadsworth, Ryan Donaldson, Dharmesh Patel, Colm Gormley, Lucy Reynolds, Emma Ernest, Calum Callaghan, Peter McGovern, Jonnie Broadbent, Robert Mountford & John Lightbody. Director: Sean Holmes.

The Embankment must go on. Any trip to the Big Smoke of London isn't complete without an atmospheric and romantic night walk from the eye of London, to Tower Bridge itself in all its iconography. You'll pass beautiful boats, book markets and galleries like the Tate Modern. But after you walk past, and not over, the bridge made famous by 'Harry Potter', you'll see a beautiful barn. But, no, Hagrid does not live there. More the stories of The Bard. Who else, but William Shakespeare with all the world that's a stage watching his Globe theatre of dreams?

And therein lies the rub and one of the most beautiful, bucket list nights you'll ever have, like Glastonbury or Wimbledon. Because there's nothing like a great British summer as the London locals get their cans of Pimms out. Checking this off the list, and coming back to London for the first time in five years from the Far East, to say going to The Globe is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining experiences ever, is no epic exaggeration. It's beyond beautiful, historical, or traditional. It's the pure heart and beginning of true storytelling as we know it. Right in front of us, taking its world stage.

Besides, the Romeo + Juliet starring Spider-Man across town that I also wanted to see (like the theatrical 'Stranger Things' and Studio Ghibli 'Spirited Away' theatrical adaptations) was starting at around £150 a ticket. For a slice of Shakespeare, I paid 15....and apparently it should have only been £5. In actuality, it's priceless. Especially as the actors who can also emerge from the groundling section, interact with the audience, hands on, slapping five when they break traditional character, who just love it. One absolutely beautiful moment amongst others, as all walks of life made it here, to get involved, was to see one father joyfully shushing his young daughter, who couldn't contain her excitement, or knowledge of The Bard. She'll be on that stage one day.

As you grab your sausage roll (oh, to be back in the UK) and walk through the stone steps you'll see all the stars on their stage like a Hollywood Walk of Fame. Overhearing one woman informing her friends, I learnt that the stars actually pay for their names to be on the stones. And the great John Cleese paid for his 'Monty Python' co-star and friend Michael "Pallin" to have one...on the proviso that they spelt his name wrong. Good job, Jon. Make your way past glorious gifts, literal original text and the costume of Queen Elizabeth that could even give Queenie from 'Blackadder Goes Fourth' a run for her "off with their heads" reign, and you're here. Look around at the wonderful wooden structure akin to a Japanese shrine or temple, and you'll marvel at the magic of true theatre. And as you look up, above us only sky, and a wonderful midsummers night. What a dream...even when it atmospherically rains.

But a night's dream, this matinee and evening show is not. This is 'Much Ado About Nothing', which is really everything to the Shakespeare classics and purists. Running until the 24th of August, this post-war story of love in an idyllic Italian town sees hearts and the humour of them on the horizon. All as these young and old souls, strive and connive, and scheme and contrive to find that it's actually mischief that loves company. And this Shakespeare company in Sean Holmes' perfectly plotted production is a glorious one. Ekow Quartey's brilliant Benedick. The amazing Amalia Vitalie's vitality blooming Beatrice. The sword of Jonnie Broadbent's delightful Dogberry. The heroine of Lydia Fleming's Hero. Ryan Donaldson's dynamic Don Pedro. The villainous Don John of Robert Mountford. And of course John Lightbody's legendary Lenato amongst many, many more. There's all a mesmerizing muchness to these perfect proceedings. Shakespeare would be proud. His show really does... TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Bawdiness: 'Romeo + Juliet', 'The Taming Of The Shrew', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.