|
As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
Directed by William Brown
At Writers’ Theatre
325 Tudor Court
Glencoe, IL
Call 847-242-6000, tickets $45- $5- $55
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 7:30
Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 4 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2 & 6 pm
Weekday matinees at 2 pm Feb 27, Mar. 12, Apr. 9
Running time is 2 hours, 40 minutes with intermission
Through April 20, 2008
"All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."
–Jaques from As You Like It
Breezy and hilarious Shakespeare comedy a true winner
Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe has opened a rarely performed Shakespeare romantic comedy, As You Like It. And I did, indeed, like it very much, thank you!As You Like It is a misleading work in that it is partly a pastoral styled story of exiles who flee the city for the countryside and very much a romantic comedy with social criticism of urban versus rural life and conventions of love. The work is filled with rich humor, sly asides and rich character contrasts.
The relaxed atmosphere on Keith Pitts eerie rural set becomes intimate on Writers’ Theatre’s small stage. The twelve players meld into terrific ensemble that has a several zany characters. From a nasty duke to a kind duke, from a melancholy wit to a wacky jester and a host of sexually charged lovers, The Bard’s comedy is a refreshing treat. Set in the magical Forest of Arden, As You Like It contain one of Shakespeare’s most endearing female characters—Rosalind. Tracy Michelle Arnold captures Rosalind with a smart and winning performance as she dresses as a man to convince Orlando (Marcus Truschinski) that his love is merely an illusion. Sparks fly bordering on homoerotic as Orlando becomes ‘involved’ in Rosalind despite her appearance as a boy.
 |
A love starved Shepard, Silvius (the precious Eric Parks) desperate for Phebe (Nancy Moricette) and the hilarious jester, Touchstome (the fabulous comic, Ross Lehman) woos Audry (Carol Kuykendall) in an adventure that finds displaced lovers living with the duke (John Lister) in the forest. Random love and hate are poked at in this funny show.
 |
The early wrestling scene (ambitiously realistically staged by Kevin Asselin) between Charles (Eric Parks) and Orlando (Marcus Truschinski) was amazing! The rich blend of acoustic English folk music (with original music by Andrew Hansen) with tunes by Carol Kuykendall and others offered a campfire atmosphere to the show. The outrageous humor of jester Touchstone was Ross Lehman at his wacky best. Lehman is a master a combining physical comedy with wordplay. Add the crafty timing and articulation of Larry Yando (as Jaques) giving the famous “All the world’s a stage…” speech and director Bill Brown’s As You Like It unfolds as a richly textured evening of theatre.
The cast emotionally plays love as both an obsession and a source of torment. Marcus Truschinski’ Orlando and Tracy Michelle Arnold’s Rosalind carry the show with their outstanding performances. Arnold was strong, yet warmly charming and Truschinski has the innocence and truthfulness of a determined lover.
Conventions of love, the pain-pleasure struggle and the challenge of the untouched countryside verses the sophistication of the city are vividly spoofed in this most enjoyable romantic comedy. If you’ve not seen As You Like It, get to Glencoe to Writers’ Theatre to discover a show that you’ll like.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2008
|
