ShakespeaRe-Told, Ep. 1: Much Ado About Nothing
2005: Brian Percival

This is one of a series of four 90-minute BBC made-for-television movies based on Shakespeare’s stories. They are not all of even quality, but this is probably the best of the lot.

Beatrice is a newscaster for a local news channel who has been stood up for a date three years earlier by a fellow newscaster Benedick, who has left town to pursue another job. When he’s brought in to fill in for another newscaster who has injured himself, the traditional sparks fly.

The villain of the piece, rather than being the completely unmotivated (or apparently unmotivated) Don John of the original play, is a bit of a loser who works at the television station, and after a brief fling with Hero has begun stalking her. He arranges the breakup and the critical scene between Claude (Claudio) and Hero. One of the more interesting things here is the fact that the the Hero/Claudio story doesn’t end quite the same way it does in the play — much to the gratification of many modern viewers.

The plot clearly focuses on Beatrice and Benedick, and the Claudio/Hero pairing is distinctly second-tier. Neither Beatrice nor Benedick is entirely appealing: both of them are sarcastic and prickly, and have a hard time facing up to situations and to each other honestly: ultimately doubtless what Shakespeare intended, though in a distinctly modern form.

Like most of these productions, this one tips its hat obliquely to Shakespeare by having the sonnet “Let me not to the marriage of true minds...” recited at the weddings.

There’s a certain amount of crude language and implicit sexual activity here that parents may well want to review before showing it to children.

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