Much Ado About Nothing (literally)

[aearwen2]

Last night, I happened to catch the last about an hour of the Kenneth Branagh - Emma Thompson production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". To be honest, when I saw this the first time about ten or fifteen years ago, it was my first introduction to that play - and I loved it

Comments

[heartofoshun]

I will need to go back and compare. You've peaked my interest now. I also remember the Branagh film for the beauty of the setting and cinematography. I have seen enough scenery chewing Shakespeare to last me the rest of my life, however. I like mine low key and naturalistic at the moment.

You can bet your bottom dollar that what I like is totally inauthentic as far as historical facsimile goes. I presume that Shakespeare's actors played it big and loud, with the humor broad, at least in the theater.

Wonder how they did those smaller private productions for the Queen and nobility. I would think one would have to tone it down for a smaller setting and audience? Just wondering.

I do think it is a taste question and one that even varies for the individual at different points in time. (This is truly my Shakespeare week--I am all over the Hollow Crown BBC productions of four of the history plays--watching them for the second time now.)

[sykira]

MAAN meta! Oh you so just made my morning commute!

I totally agree that the raucous humor that the DT/CT version portrayed felt much more like "oh THIS is how it's supposed to be!"
Having studied Shakespeare when younger and never quite understanding the appeal despite getting an A in Eng Lit A-levels for analyzing it, seeing MAAN live was an epiphany for me. I SO get it now! If nothing else, this production went a huge way to bringing Shakespeare to the masses.

[heartofoshun]

I have not actually seen that production yet, but found it and will make a point to do so.

[aearwen2]

I think there's a time for low key and naturalistic, and then there are those times when making something low key seems to smother the natural beauty of the characters' interactions. The audiences in Shakespeare's time were, of course, those to whom a broad and coarse humor and comedy would be most appealing. But there's a difference between making the humor broad and crass and making it sparkling and sharp

[heartofoshun]

OMG!

the production of the Branagh version took place in the ill-fated Branagh/Thompson marriage. I'm wondering if some of the distance I sensed between the characters on screen was due to a growing distance in the actors' personal life.

I was reading along with what you had written and wondering exactly the same thing! One does wonder!

For example, shortly before that he played Henry V thoughtfully, but not without passion, for example. So I wouldn't even call it truly low key.