2000: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare.  The Looking Glass directed by Cathie Clelland  for National Shakespeare Festival, Gorman House Arts Centre  January 18 to February 20, 7pm.

    In its early days The Looking Glass was rather narcissistic, but this production of Much Ado reflects a growing maturity. 

I liked Clelland's direct approach to the text, set in beautifully colour-coordinated costumes, movement nicely choreographed by Vivienne Rogis, making a virtue of the courtyard space at Gorman House, and accompanied by quality music and song.  I might call this a production divine - but "honest" and "sensible" come more to mind.  Especially sensible: meaning you can make sense of everything that is said.

All the actors are effective, characters well delineated and voices sufficiently audible in the open air.  The use of Gorman House rather than Aspen Island, though regretted by many, is the right choice for this play.

Sally Hendrie, as Beatrice, and Lachlan Abrahams, as Benedick, were notable for their rounding out of these characters, achieving, as Shakespeare surely intended, the self-awareness which lifts them out of the ordinary.  When Beatrice paused and then told Benedick to "Kill Claudio", we felt horrified at her demand, with Benedick, but knew he had no choice.  Here was the reality behind the sophisticated banter and wit.  Equally strong was Phil Roberts' Dogberry, who showed us that justice is a constant, for the unsophisticated as much as for the verbally unchallenged.

In our world we face the same array of "clever" wits, political snakes, and men who assume a "natural right" to power.  We also have intelligent women and genuine men.  Shakespeare shows us models for living, and this production brings the models to life.

Particularly interesting was the calm assurance of Simon Lissaman's playing of Don Pedro - a prince we could easily believe was the epitome of the good prime minister.  But see how easily he could be fooled into enforcing injustice - the error only revealed by the determination of ordinary people to report the truth, and bring the perpetrators of lies before the court. 

Much Ado About Nothing is clearly about a very great deal, and I thank The Looking Glass for showing us so clear an image of ourselves.

© Frank McKone, Canberra