6.7.11

This timeless William Shakespeare romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing is currently showing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate.

We were fortunate to book early and get two of the Hottest Tickets in Town this summer and the pair certainly give a sizzling performance as the continuously sparring couple who protest their hatred so much they were clearly made for one another!

And they have had practice at working well together as Catherine also played the part of Donna Noble in the 2006 Christmas Special –The Runaway Bride ,a full series of Dr Who in 2008, and in the End of Time in 2010

This new stage version is set in Gibraltar in 1980’s and Hero is depicted as a Lady Diana virgin -even getting to wear a similar dress for her wedding to Claudio.  The modern costume, music and slapstick comedy makes this well loved Shakespearean play very much a story for our own times.

There is also a production in period costume of this play running at the famous Shakespeare’s Globe theatre on the South Embankment of the Thames – showing from 21st May to 1st October .

But probably my favourite version of Much Ado About Nothing is the 1993 film produced by Kenneth Branagh – which was all filmed in Tuscany and is filled with the glorious Tuscan light as well as the joie di vivre of the young actors enjoying the revelry of all the key roles – except of course Keanu Reeves as the unhappy and vanquished Don John!

The Hey Nonny Noony chorus as they dance around a Tuscan Garden at the end of this film always makes me smile -I am trying to find out which garden it was to add to our garden tours!

Success!! – my grateful thanks to Barbara for lending me a marvellous book called Tuscany – a movie that never ends – now most definitely on my reading list!

The Villa and Garden used for the Kenneth Branagh movie was Villa VignaMaggio in the heart of Chianti.

Got to go on the list for future garden tours !