Peggy Ashcroft Holt in "Edward, My Son", in the West End and then on Broadway, and the downtrodden Catherine Sloper in "The Heiress" in 1949. Ashcroft began the 1950s with a return to Shakespeare, at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, playing Beatrice to Gielgud's Benedick in "Much Ado About Nothing" and Cordelia to his King Lear. In 1951 she returned to the Old Vic, playing Viola in "Twelfth Night", the title role in "Electra" and Mistress Page in "The Merry Wives of Windsor". In the second of these, according to Billington, "she scaled the austere peaks of Greek tragedy". Through the rest
Much Ado About Nothing (1993 film) of the humor, the performances, and Branagh's lively direction, of which he wrote, "This film cements Branagh's status as a great director of Shakespeare, and perhaps of film in general, as well." Conversely, Peter Travers of "Rolling Stone" wrote the film a negative review, praising some moments as "invigorating fun", but ultimately calling it "overripe." Most of the negative criticisms focused on particular casting choices, notably Keanu Reeves as Don John, and Michael Keaton as Dogberry. For his performance in the film, Reeves was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor, where he lost to Woody Harrelson