As
You Like It
November 1998, Off-Off-Broadway, NY
Review from the Off-Off-Broadway Review (www.oobr.com),
Volume 5, Number 5, Nov. 19987:
By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Basil
Review by Steve Gold
In utilizing a 1590 novel by Thomas Lodge, Shakespeare fashioned a comedy
rich in creamy poetry, rollicking wordplay, and timeless wisdom. All of these
elements were on full display in The American Globe Theatre's satisfying
production of As You Like It.
Blame it all on love--and villainy. Duke Frederick (Robert Bowen Jr.) has
exiled his brother, Duke Senior (Roland Sands), to the forest of Arden. For good
measure, he sends Rosalind (Elizabeth Keefe), Duke Senior's daughter, to join
him. Rosalind's loyal cousin Celia (Melissa Hill), who is Frederick's daughter,
accompanies her to Arden. Meanwhile, Orlando (Trent Dawson) is having a
difficult time with his older brother Oliver (Rainard Rachele) because he,
Orlando, feels that Oliver has cheated him out of his inheritance. Oliver is not
amused by Orlando's accusation; he plots to murder him. Orlando escapes to
Arden, but before doing so manages to fall in love with Rosalind and she with
him. Their subsequent adventure in the forest forms the basis of a gloriously
dizzy fable that ends with a whopper of a deus ex machina.
Clearly, director John Basil was not intimidated by the story's unwieldiness:
his cast of 18 were well-prepared; they spoke their lines with clarity and brio,
and the evening breezed by without any roadblocks. The overall acting style made
this As You Like It distinctly American, a fact which might have been
more problematic had Mr. Basil chosen to stage, say, one of the history plays.
But it worked well here, and the various relationships were persuasively
established by the actors. To wit, Ms. Hill and Ms. Keefe were charming as the
devoted cousins; likewise the portrayal of the nascent romance between Rosalind
and Orlando. Mr. Rachele authentically conveyed Oliver's malevolence toward
Orlando. As Duke Senior, Roland Sands was commanding in an effortless way; and
Richard Fay had an amusingly wry turn as Jaques, one of Duke Senior's
followers--his recital of the "Seven Ages" speech was quite funny and
ultimately moving. Andre Dell and Karina Lynch made a boisterous Silvius and
Phebe - Shakespeare's satirical comment on country bumpkinism. Jay Alvarez
contributed a frisky Touchstone, the play's fool and unofficial critic. As Adam,
Oliver's decent, badly treated servant who saves Orlando's life by warning him
of Oliver's intentions, Ryohei Hoshi shone. In the small role of Corin, an old
shepherd, John D'Arcangelo was thoughtful and gentle. In addition, several other
actors had multiple roles which were handled with skill and minimal fuss.
James A. Bazewicz conjured up a striking set consisting of a winding
staircase leading to a bridge--replete with a Roman arch or two--which extended
almost the entire width of the stage before abruptly sloping down to the ground,
as if it had been wrecked in a storm. To suggest the forest of Arden, he
cleverly placed hanging strips of knotted cloth about the stage. Jacqueline
Lowry's lighting and Cathy Maguire's costumes added favorably to the mix, as did
David Pinkard's modernist-sounding music. The early fight scene between Orlando
and Charles the wrestler (Robert Chaney) was gracefully choreographed by Dan
O'Driscoll.
(Also featuring Nick Anselmo, Erika Becker, Curtis Harwell, Meilan Smith and
Alex White.)
Copyright 1998 Steve Gold
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