I had three theatre trips this week – one of which I disliked (and which ended last night) and two of which I loved. This is one of the loved but I only saw this last night, so I’m not sure my thoughts on it are at their most coherant yet. However as it only has a week left of its run I thought I ought to write about it straightaway – although tickets are at a something of a premium and next weekend is already completely sold out – so if you want to go you’ll have to get your ducks in a row RightNowThisInstant.
This is the RSC’s new production of As You Like It, with an all-male cast led by Jonathan Groff making his RSC debut as Rosalind. In case you’re not across the plot – this is one of Shakepeare’s comedies and I’m going to use the RSC’s own summary because it’s so neat and concise:
Rosalind is banished from the court of Duke Frederick – but not before she and young Orlando fall for each other. Seeking out her exiled father in the Forest of Arden with her devoted cousin, Celia, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man, Ganymede.
In fear of his own life, Orlando also escapes to the forest and soon runs into Ganymede, who pledges to cure his lovesickness. But in order to do so, Orlando has to woo her… or rather, he has to woo ‘him’. Then the games commence.
I am always a comedy over tragedy person – and like my all-time favourite Twelfth Night, this has characters in disguise. And in fact it goes even further than that does, especially when you have an all male cast because by late in the second act you have a man playing a woman, dressed as a man pretending to be a woman. If that sounds confusing, it’s not, because when you’re watching it onstage it’s wonderfully, gloriously clear.
In fact, I don’t really have any complaints to make about this at all, it was quite simply one of the best nights of theatre I have had in a very long time. It was very funny, the performances were brilliant and I cannot explain how brilliant the design and costume of it was. My photo of the top is of the opening set that is used for the Court of Duke Frederick – and the contrast from that to the Forest of Arden is truly astonishing. I did take a photo, but I’m not posting it because it’s a spoiler and it really doesn’t do the thing justice.
I always worry that I’m not going to be able to follow Shakespeare if I haven’t read up first* and I read the play text this week to make sure I was across what was happening, but honestly I didn’t need to – it was so easy to understand and so clear what was happening. This is Daniel Evans’ first Shakespeare productions since he started as RSC co-artistic director and he has made the Forest of Arden’s residents Welsh, with beautiful close harmony singing on top of everything else that is so clever.
I booked this because my sister and I wanted to see Jonathan Groff, and he was brilliant – but truly the whole production was. Gary Wilmot – who I have only ever see in panto or musicals – is making his RSC debut as Dukes Frederick and Senior but truly I don’t think there was a weak link anywhere in the cast – or indeed the whole production. Truly a magical, magical night in the theatre.
Have a great Sunday.
*I think this is a legacy of seeing a couple of Shakespeares as a teenager where I struggled
