Don't miss ex-student Antonio Magro in the RSC's 'Much Ado About Nothing' in Stratford. Antonio who has previously starred in 'Matilda The Musical', 'Groundhog Day', 'Litvinenko' and 'House of the Dragon' plays 'Dogberry' and here is our review :
Football and Shakespeare: not the most promising rom-com combo, you might presume? Yet mass entertainment meets high culture here, and it works. Yes, it really does. In a highly watchable modern staging of Much Ado About Nothing, Hurtwood’s very own Antonio Magro does us proud, as new life is breathed into that old, old story of the war of the sexes. Turns out that perennial battle between men and women for mutual love and respect (or is that just sex and power?) slips readily into the world of international celebrity footballers and their Wags, a world that is as tawdry and vulgar as it is glossy and fascinating.
This top-drawer RSC production finds surprising and even illuminating connections with the sixteenth century world of sparring military factions enjoying some post-battle rest and recreation. Unapologetic in its harnessing of our contemporary world, mobile phones and laptops abound, texts and social media commentary aid, rather than grate, and screen visuals help explain the often convoluted and challenging plot strands and mechanisms, and yes, keep us entertained. At heart a love story, the plot pivots on the age-old assumption that marriage is a trap – for men at least – and women are most definitely the weaker sex and not to be trusted, with ‘weaker’ here implying a moral not physical judgement. On one level it’s a tale of everyday misogyny and male cruelty (in Othello, Shakespeare gives us the tragic version) but this, thank heavens, is comedy, and the men get a second chance to redeem themselves, and the women choose forgiveness. Oh happy day. The lovers various flirt, fight, and reconcile for our delectation and enjoyment, strutting their stuff, teetering on vertiginous heels. There are enough curves and cleavage, as well as finely toned and tattooed male flesh on show to, ahem, focus attention; more tulle and sequins to tick the sparkle box. But here’s the thing: the language. Will’s all-encompassing world of witty repartee, the psychological truths, the insecurities and vanities of the human condition, the foolishness and the freshness: they are firmly at the heart of things. And Antonio? Well, his love of The Bard, his handling of the complex intricacies of language, stand him in good stead here. Over his pay grade as head of security, his character Dogberry is the archetypal forerunner of Mr Bean, an opinionated buffoon, whose greatest skill is turning words on their heads, and making mayhem, mishearing accurate insults as generous compliments. Antonio is clearly having a ball as the presumptuous, bumptious simpleton, out of his depth and with delusions of – well not quite grandeur, let’s just say adequacy – amidst these self-important footballers. His performance galvanised our laughter and even invited a little sympathy for his naive self-absorption.
Catch this production while you can until May 24th in Stratford. You won’t be disappointed!
By Louise Haile
