Shakespeare Retold [2005] [DVD]

Four of Shakespeare's best known plays are interpreted into modern settings by some of Britain's leading television writers. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is adapted by Peter Bowker and stars Imelda Staunton, Bill Paterson, Rupert Evans and Johnny Vegas. The film takes place during a weekend in a holiday park. Theo (Patterson) and Polly (Staunton) have come to Dream Park to celebrate their daughter Hermia's engagement. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and the night ahead holds revelations, fairies, transformations and plenty of love juice. 'The Taming Of The Shrew' stars Twiggy, Stephen Tompkinson, Jamie Murray and Rufus Sewell and is adapted by Sally Wainwright. Katherine Minola (Shirley Henderson) is a succesful politician, tipped for the leadership of her party. The only problem is, her awful temper has left her a 38 year old singleton, and everyone, from her party chairman to her sister, wants her to get married. Is passionate eccentric Petruchio (Rufus Sewell) the answer to her prayers? 'Much Ado About Nothing', when the bickering between broadcasters Beatrice (Sarah Parish) and Benedick (Damian Lewis) gets too much to take, their colleagues at South West TV come up with a cunning plan to shut the pair up. Meanwhile, lovely weathergirl Hero (Billie Piper) and dashing reporter Claude (Tom Ellis) are a match made in heaven - but does everyone want to see them so happy? Finally, 'Macbeth' stars James McAvoy and Keeley Hawes. Top chef Joe Macbeth (McAvoy) has worked hard to make Duncan Donahue's (Vincent Regan) restaurant a success. So, when he's told it'll all be his one day, what's to stop him taking it now?