Theatre Review: Much Ado Meets Mexico

Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare's Globe ★★★★☆

Hari Mountford
By Hari Mountford Last edited 80 months ago

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Theatre Review: Much Ado Meets Mexico Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare's Globe 4

The Globe’s new production of Much Ado About Nothing brings the Bard to revolutionary twentieth century Mexico, and boldly puts a sombrero on Shakespeare.

As part of the Summer of Love season, this play follows Beatrice and Bendick as they reluctantly realise their feelings for one another, egged on by their outspoken friends. Set in the midst of the Mexican Revolution, the play is full of colour and creativity — this is indeed the case with the script, which occasionally veers from the original, but to the effect of much laughter from the crowd.

The set is impressive,  featuring a freight train carriage complete with more windows and doors than you can shake a maraca at. Atop the train sits the band — heavy on Spanish guitar — whose soundtrack significantly adds to the fiesta-style atmosphere. Expect much flouncing of skirts, singing, epic one-liners and a ‘so what?’ to tradition. Hardcore Shakey fans may feel shortchanged, but this version is definitely worth witnessing.

Much Ado About Nothing runs until 15 October at Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT.

Last Updated 24 July 2017