As you like it - Shakespeare in the Park

Tue, 15 Jan 2008, 08:11 am

Shakespeare’s ‘As you like it’ is the latest production from A Deckchair Theatre, sponsored by Shell and Fothergills of Fremantle, the play is being presented in King’s Park, Perth each evening at 8 pm until 9^th February.

Rosalind’s (Tamara Cook) father is banished by her cruel uncle (George Shevtsov). Having no-one else in the world, she goes to stay with her cousin Celia (Emily Brennan). Whilst out one day, Rosalind spots Orlando (Brendan Hanson) and falls instantly in love, and he with her. Although desperate for his hand in marriage, she sets up various tests including a hilarious wrestling match with a horrible mauler (Luke Hewitt). Then disguised as a young man she goes on to show Orlando how he should woo his love.

There are three or four other fabulous love affairs, but how many will actually seal the deal?

This is one of Shakespeare’s lesser performed plays, possibly because the storyline is simple and the text a little tortuous, but here under the direction of Angela Chaplin and her assistant Lawrie Cullen-Tait, the show comes alive and sparkles from beginning to end.

This excellent adaptation is set in the flower-power era of the late 1960s, with a vibrant psychedelic set (Andrew Portwine) and glorious PVC, technicoloured costumes (Isaac Lummis) mingled with carefully chosen and edited music of the era. The audience – unprompted - joined in singing along, a true sign that everyone was genuinely enjoying themselves. Simon and Garfunkel will never be the same again!

With the almost pantomime delivery, the Bard Buffs may cringe a little at the style, but it was meant to be a fun play and this certainly was. All of the cast were well above average, with every ounce of humour being squeezed out of every situation. Great comedic delivery. Fast paced and with plenty of movement.

The stage is beautifully situated under a long curved bough which frames the whole scene wonderfully.

I am so pleased to see the general manager, David Gerrand, leave for his new post in Melbourne on such a high as this. All the best to David and Angela.

A sensational show from a very professional team.

Thread (8 posts)

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Gordon the OptomTue, 15 Jan 2008, 08:11 am

There are three or four other fabulous love affairs, but how many will actually seal the deal?

The stage is beautifully situated under a long curved bough which frames the whole scene wonderfully.

I am so pleased to see the general manager, David Gerrand, leave for his new post in Melbourne on such a high as this. All the best to David and Angela.

A sensational show from a very professional team.

Walter PlingeSun, 20 Jan 2008, 09:37 am

how do you know it was

how do you know it was meant to be a fun play?

Sean BSun, 20 Jan 2008, 09:59 am

'As You Like It' is one of

'As You Like It' is one of Shakespeare's comedies right? Doesn't that entail that it should be a fun play? ____________________________________________________________ Currently working on: 'Locked In' a short play based on a real life experience For more details visit: www.freewebs.com/lazycreationsgroup

LogosSun, 20 Jan 2008, 10:24 am

It's not really a comedy.

It's not really a comedy. It is technically a pastorale which is a genre we no longer recognise. It leans to comedic rather than tradgedy but is intended to partake of a different tone than a comedy. It also heralds the change of clown in Shakespeares company as Jaques was obviously written for a melancholic clown rather than the bumbling idiot of say Lancelot Gobbo. A great play and it sounds like a wonderful production. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

crgwllmsFri, 25 Jan 2008, 01:12 am

t's a comedy if everyone

t's a comedy if everyone gets married in the end. It' a tragedy if everybody dies. Either way, the world of the play is put right, tying up all loose ends and giving everyone what they deserve. For a Shakespeare comedy, As You Like It is unfortunately tedious, especially at the end. We all know what's about to happen, Rosalind says it's going to happen, she discoovers that everyone wants it to happen and there's no reason not for it to happen, then she says it'll happen soon, then she strings it out, then Hymen arrives and says (somewhat overstatedly) let's make it happen, then a messenger comes and says it's okay if it happens, and then Rosalind talks about it happening again but she repeats everything about eight times each, then it finally happens and then she has a bloody epilogue half apologizing for it happening. As an audience we spend the last hour of the play thinking 'GET ON WITH IT!' As far as it being a fun play, there are only a few points where I really find it comical. It's just not one of his best. But as for this being a fun production, I found quite a lot of fun in the background characters, the choice of costumes, and the music. It's the directorial details and actors choices (that actually have little to do with the actual play) that make it entertaining and fun. I thought there were a lot of things that stood out in this production. Some of them stood out for entirely the wrong reason, but others were genuine highlights. It will be interesting to see who'll tackle the park next year, now that the Deckchair reigns are being handed over. Cheers, Craig ~<8>-/====\---------

Gordon the OptomFri, 25 Jan 2008, 07:46 am

variablility

How did you sneak in front of Logos' comment Craig?

The night I saw the show, everything worked just brilliantly. However the more people I have spoken to, the more diverse the performances appear to be for this production.

crgwllmsMon, 28 Jan 2008, 11:17 am

Sneaky

The same way I just snuck in front of yours, Gordon! Cheers, Craig ~<8>-/====\---------

Don AllenWed, 6 Feb 2008, 09:02 am

I went and saw it last

I went and saw it last night and although the Bards words slow down the pace, and yes it does go on at the end, it was a plaesant night out. You need to add the atmosphere, location, ambience, picnic meal as part of this production to fully appreciate the "package". Great choice of location, excellent front of house, the play is part of it. I would imagine there is a slight variation each night as the cast works off any audience interaction and having cast members working their way through the audience and enjoying their picnic baskets makes for some side humour. Watch out for Celia's antics. The curtain call seemed too involved as we could not clap naturally as the music synchronises your clapping and you are not sure what to do. Lighting was simple and effective, good example of where to use Par64's.

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