As You Like It
Performed outdoors at The Holloway Garden Theatre, The RSC’s production of As You Like It takes us to the Forest of Arden via a one-man wrestling match, (more about that later), a family feud and a lot of love poetry.
Duke Senior has been forced in to exile by Duke Frederick and is hiding out in the forest. Duke Senior’s daughter Rosalind has stayed at court along with her cousin Celia, where they meet Orlando and Oliver. Oliver has kept his brother in poverty since their father’s death and so he takes part in a wrestling match to win his fortune, where he falls in love with Rosalind.
Duke Frederick then banishes Rosalind and along with Celia and their fool, Touchstone, they head to the forest to find Duke Senior, disguising themselves as the boy Ganymede (Rosalind) and his sister Aliena (Celia). Orlando finds out that Oliver plans to kill him and so he also flees to the forest, taking shelter with Duke Senior.
As Orlando posts love notes to his beloved Rosalind, he encounters ‘Ganymede’ and the disguised Rosalind challenges him to prove the strength of his love. Elsewhere in the forest, various other characters are falling in unrequited love with others and Oliver is heading in to find Orlando, but instead falls in love with the disguised Celia (Aliena).
Luke Brady as Orlando plays a strong lead, uninhibited by a very recent and booted foot injury. Indeed, the one-man wrestling match, (as mentioned previously), is an unexpected addition but portrayed brilliantly by Peter Dukes as Charles. A true “the show must go on” moment.
Letty Thomas as Rosalind has a welcome and entertaining portrayal of this beloved character. Her turn as Ganymede is effortless and a natural extension from Rosalind. Equally, Natasha Magigi as Phoebe is a fresh take of what can sometimes be a dull character. Breathing life into the shepherdess who believes Ganymede is her dream ‘man.’
Overall, the performances are delightful, the set is cleverly adaptable and simple in its transformation scene, (set and costume design by Liam Bunster), the direction is effective and easy to follow (by Brendon O’Hea) and the sound quality (by Jonathan Ruddick) is sublime, making this a perfect and brilliantly entertaining production for all the family and a great introduction for anyone not too familiar with Shakespeare.
An all round treat for audiences!
This show was reviewed on the 1st August 2024 at The RSC where it runs until the 1st September 2024. Tickets available here: As You Like It | Royal Shakespeare Company (rsc.org.uk)
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit: Marc Brenner
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