Much Ado About Nothing

Third Door Theatre produce a well-polished and orchestrated performance of this delightful comedy. The modern setting allows for some very clever adaptations of the script. The masquerade ball resonates particularly well with the themes of duplicity and dishonour that dominate the play. Beatrice (Claire Abagia) is undoubtedly the star of the show. Abagia executes a good measure of both the lightness and the drama of her character and this enables her to show a great range and depth of emotion. Benedick (Kane Lach), Don Pedro (Jayden Chivers), Count Claudio (Remy Chadwick) and Hero (Melody Spratley) are also played in an engaging and vibrant manner.

This production is somewhat ambitious in its intention to preserve the text in its entirety. Some uneven and more restrained performances make this challenging to sustain in parts. The sometimes awkward manoeuvring of the set tended to distract attention away from the dialogue and a more economical approach to the staging could help to move the action along more smoothly.

The constables (Andrew Tomazos, Sophia Field, Charlotte Shah) provide some nicely managed comedy routines and their costuming is very inventive and amusing. There are many great ideas in this show that are beautifully executed, especially the musical interludes which are delicate and well-timed. This helps to accentuate the energy and enthusiasm of the play and, on the whole, this production delivers some solid and worthwhile entertainment.

Patricia Di Risio