Take Agent Carter of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Loki the God of Mischief from the Marvel Comics Universe and put them together in a Shakespearean comedy and you’re bound to make waves. And so it is.
The moment Tom Hiddleston’s Benedick clasps Hayley Atwell’s Beatrice to his six-pack there is a roar of approval from the audience. Director Jamie Lloyd’s second production of his Shakespeare season is an unalloyed delight.
With pink confetti raining down throughout, especially during the plentiful snatches of 80s and 90s hit songs blasted out to keep the adrenaline peaking, this is a big-hearted, delirious and audience friendly show: Party Hard With The Bard!
Confirmed bachelor Benedick returns from the wars as a hero to find his ex-lover Beatrice prepared to continue their own personal war of wits. Around them, courtiers attempt to arrange their reunion as Benedick’s friend Claudio (James Phoon) falls head over heels for Beatrice’s cousin Hero (Mara Huf).
It’s all fun and games until miserable party pooper Don John (Tim Steed) seeks a long-held revenge on Benedick by slandering Hero. The party seems to be over until – you guessed it – the now blissfully reunited Benedick and Beatrice are called upon to set matters right.
Lloyd throws everything onto the stage except scenery – a giant inflatable heart, animal masks for a ball, a Lady Gaga lookalike (Mason Alexander Park) and the entire cast including veterans Forbes Masson and Gerald Kyd dancing their socks off.
In spite of the relentless flurry of frivolous activity, the romantic element is as strong as hot blood and the momentary darkness of the second half stings like a stiletto.
Everyone plays to the audience with outrageous abandon and a reference to the leading characters’ movie roles provide a Marvel-lous visual gag.
The supreme moment of knowing narcissism is when Hiddleston unbuttons his shirt, causing an uproar among certain sections of the audience that threatened to crack the walls of the oldest theatre in town. This is one from – and for – the heart.
Much Ado About Nothing is playing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until April 5
Tickets: 020 3925 2998