i do get irritate with modern adaptation of shakespeare when the director can not make his mind up whether to use the original or to update it . if it use the original word in an updated setting and that particularly tricky if set in the 20th or 21st century although it can work ok in period style and eg the trevor nunn twelfth night set late victorian very effectively . it could work with the 30 setting if only there have be far less of the song and dance and far more of shakespeare text . unfortunately and it just end up be a pretty trivial though very pleasant show . another problem be branagh himself . i agree he far too old to play one of the student but more important and he such an experienced shakespearean actor that in spite of all his effort to be just another student and his strength of acting show all the time . of course he should have play the king no problem in have a mature student king surround by young student . instead we have a pleasant but unimposing actor for the king and thus an unimposing so call king with no kingly attribute . the amount of song and dance and which i find tedious in spite of the nice song and pleasant enough dancing and unfortunately mean the great shakespearean dialogue have to be cut down drastically . so the whole thing end up a trivial and mild confection and and i get very bored and include with the comic turn and and be glad when it end . branagh have not do shakespeare justice in this production . accolade however to richard brier and geraldine mcewan and absolutely splendid a the old couple .