Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael Elwyn, Leroy Osei-Bonsu, Beth Cooke, James Garnon, Danny Lee Wynter, Lloyd Everitt, Alan David, Trevor Laird, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Melody Grove, Penelope Beaumont, Peter Wright, Tim Barlow, Katherine Carlton.

There really is nothing quite like watching two of the most celebrated actors of their generation giving an audience an evening inside a theatre in which will be remembered for so long and for all the right reasons. When those two actors are the exquisite and commanding Vanessa Redgrave and one of the all-time greatest American actors in James Earl Jones and they are surrounded by a cast that just revelled in the performance, then The Old Vic was on to an absolute winner with their new stage production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Much Ado About Nothing has had quite a year with Joss Whedon’s monochrome spectacular having won many plaudits earlier in the year, it could have been a step to far to expect audiences to come out for yet another version and yet under the expert direction of Mark Rylance, the production is fresh, playful and pleasantly satisfying.

What makes the play interesting is as in recent years is the transplantation of the era in which the production is set. Well away from the cosy world in which it could happily sit and by placing it in the dominion of one of the sterner times that Britain faced, the final days of World War Two, made it more immediate and slightly more intimidating whilst retaining all that is good about arguably Shakespeare’s finest comedy.

The evening was not just about Ms. Redgrave and James Earl Jones as there was some rather splendid performances from the enchanting Ms. Cooke as Hero, Danny Lee Wynter as the scheming Don John, the brilliance of perfect comic timing from Mr. Peter Wright in the gruelling twin roles of Friar Francis and Dogberry and the superb Kingsley Ben-Adir as Borachio. In a production that focuses on the relationship between two sets of lovers, the entire cast made this a production in which to be proud of and celebrated.

Coming to London is always satisfying, with Ms. Redgrave and the enigmatic James Earl Jones in town, coming to the capital is a pleasure enhanced.

Ian D. Hall