Much Ado About Nothing (literally)

Last night, I happened to catch the last about an hour of the Kenneth Branagh - Emma Thompson production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". To be honest, when I saw this the first time about ten or fifteen years ago, it was my first introduction to that play - and I loved it.

So when the time came, I purchased the Digital Theatre's taping of MAAN with David Tennant and Catherine Tate from last year's theatre season. Since then, I've watched that production a number of times and grown familiar with both the way DT and CT and the other cast members interpreted the characters, as well as the way some of the speeches came across.

Last night's accidental tripping over the previous version of the play gave me an unexpected opportunity to compare the two.

( Musings about differing interpretations under the cut )

I'm afraid I've a new favorite. And I'm now glad I never sprang for the DVD of the Branagh production, because I'd never watch it again.