As You Like It

Synopsis

Written around 1600 and set in two contrasting communities; city and forest. Rosalind and Celia have been banished from Court. In fear of their lives, they disguise themselves and seek sanctuary in the Forest of Arden. Amongst the magical and ancient boughs, Rosalind discovers her exiled father, uncovers various truths about herself and others...and falls helplessly in love. But in this earthly paradise nothing is quite what it seems: men do not always act like men, and women can be anything at all...Uplifting, awe-inspiring and immense fun, Shakespeare's wondrous comedy is a joyous celebration of the liberating power of love and the redeeming spirit of nature.

Our Review:

7 July 2011

The RET's Summer seasons draws to a close with this new production of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. This popular comedy follows the story of Rosalind (Cush Jumbo) fleeing persecution of the Court ruled by her uncle the Duke Frederick (Terence Wilton) with her cousin Celia (Kelly Hotten) and the Court Jester Touchstone (Ian Bartholomew) to the forest of Arden where she finds love and safety.  

The only criticism I have is that this play is somewhat slow to start and feels somewhat drawn out to begin with. Also, the   full oppression of the ruling Court is not fully established and it is not immediately clear what Rosalind is fleeing from and why it is necessary for her to do so.

But once Rosalind and Celia have escaped and transformed themselves in to brother and sister Ganymede and Aliena (Jumbo and Hotten respectively) and journeyed to Arden; the action really takes off and the audience se...

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