[School of Movies 2026]
For the third week of Shakestember, we move away from tragedy to comedy... except we don't really. By and large, scholars agree that the tragedies are actually funnier than the comedies, in principle, because the man writing them needed some real winning moments to help you invest emotionally, rather than heaping on doom and gloom (King Lear does that and we aren't fans). In other words, if he gives you a taste of the sweet, taking it away as bitterness descends feels more of a contrast, and sweeps you up in a more powerful feeling of loss.
Much Ado takes the beguiling form of a sexy, Tuscany holiday of a comedy, but Kenneth Branagh -in directing and starring- very overtly brings it down as we reach the halfway point, and some really serious and upsetting decisions are made. Some of the most memorable and cherished of his characters are in the memorable mix here, and Billy Shakes appears to be pronouncedly building upon and evolving his earlier works. This 1993 production is one of our favourites, so thank you to Matthew A. Seibert for commissioning it and effectively bringing this whole month-long project into being.
This week's After School Club: A Special Project
Next week: 10 Things I Hate About You
