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Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell create a potent, antagonistic sense of attraction between Shakespeare’s warring lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, in this joyful, rave-influenced production by Jamie Lloyd.
He’s not afraid to look absurd, at one point inserting himself into the aforementioned balloon heart, which makes him look like he’s wearing a huge pair of comedy breasts on his head.
Park also covers the absence of the comic constables, judiciously axed by Lloyd, and supplies vocals for several anthems, including Guetta’s closing, arms-aloft When Love Takes Over.
The simplicity of the staging and the licensed showboating of the stars gives an idea of what theatre in Shakespeare’s day might have been like, only with more Jagerbombs, airhorn blasts and disco lights.
I’ve never heard Beatrice’s waspish banter better delivered – it makes you wish Atwell did more comedy – nor felt her rage so powerfully.
