Shakespeare's plays have been reinterpreted again and again throughout the years; from ballet to Bollywood, I've seen my fair share. Now The Running Torch Theatre Company have taken a fresh look at Much Ado About Nothing, interspersing it with 80's pop hits to create their very own Musical Much Ado.Peppering Shakespeare with musical additions is not a new idea, many of his plays already including their own rhymes and melodies. So it was not a stab in the dark for this young company to include modern music in their performance. Unfortunately, it didn’t always work. The songs were disjointed with the piece, functioning merely as a cabaret-style break between scenes, wherein whatever 80's classic which best fit the mood would be served up. Particularly disheartening were the songs in which a cast member would take the microphone centre stage for a solo number, which more often than not felt horribly like a karaoke. However, this had its exceptions, and a few songs such as a whole-cast rendition of Night Fever during the wedding celebrations, let music bring life to (rather than reflect back on) the moment.With all that said, this was actually a very good performance. The classic story was brought to life by the fun and energetic cast. Comedy duo Dogberry and Verges (Rory Young and Lucy Beardmore-Gray, respectively) made the most of all the laughs the script allowed and then some, and Rosie Besant played a believably argumentative and feisty Beatrice. However, without a doubt Benedick, played by Henry Richardson, gave the absolute standout performance. He showed a complete understanding of his character, giving a refreshing approach to the role of the confirmed bachelor and allowing the audience to indulge in his storyline. The moments leading up to his and Beatrice's first kiss were tantalising, and this feeling was all down to the actors' sincere engagement with the play, giving the audience a genuine concern for the characters and prompting a strong emotional impact.Although they could be faulted for a few amateur moves – whispering backstage, a couple of fluffed lines and giggling when an exit went awry - the overall feeling of glee the show produced was not tarnished. This is an uplifting and fun performance and a great way to indulge in the play, especially for any sceptical Shakespeare newbies.
