NT Live - As You Like It

This was superb loved it Here's my thoughts as for the Guide http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/nt-live-presents-as-you-like-it-at-the-olivier-theatre/The latest of the NTLive series is this delightful enchanting version of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ directed by Polly Findlay and filmed at the Olivier Theatre. From a set design perspective this production is tremendous. The court scenes early in Act 1 are devised as garishly stylised, bright, bold and colourful regimented offices of a major company with a terrible multi coloured carpet. There is a magnificent coup de theatre transformation scene where all the desks, chairs and more are lifted and become the looming Forest of Arden. Lighting by Jon Clark is terrific too. In this version especially in Act 1, you really do get a feeling of how cold it is, how eerie and mysterious the Forest is, with the forest creatures looming in the darkness. The eeriness is articulated even more by onstage singers who present Orlando Gough’s atmospheric score. The ensemble work is splendid.Much fun is had by audience and cast when the cast are sheep in white woolly jumpers and black socks. The office in Act 1 is tightly controlled with regimented, timed to the second, lunch breaks. The wrestling match, presented as a team building exercise in Act 1, is also precisely choreographed, – poor Orlando doesn’t seem to have a hope. The wrestler Charles is twice his size. The fight with flashing lights, pounding music and chanting is a draw with Orlando winning on technical points. Most of the office workers have clapped and cheered Charles on. Our Rosalind, Rosalie Craig, with beautiful long red hair cascading in tumbled curls, is radiant. Her character is strong and quick witted, and Craig gives a delicious reading of the part. In disguise, as Ganymede, her hair is cut very short. She is instantly struck by Orlando, becomes dizzy with love, and verbally spars with him reminiscent of Beatrice and Benedict in another Bard play. As Rosalind Craig is beautiful refined and elegant , as Ganymede exuberant and energetic. Both hint at feline grace. Rosalind’s loving, loyal cousin Celia was delightfully played by small, dark impish Patsy Ferran who gave an impassioned, thoughtful and supportive performance. Our affable hero Orlando, who we first meet as an office cleaner, is wonderfully played by Joe Bannister, who gives a vibrant, and at times edgy performance. Orlando bemoans his treatment by his brother Oliver and his lack of education. Once in Arden he grows in confidence and is joyous in his love for Rosalind. leaping around leaving his love notes on the trees. His concern for old Adam in Act 1 is very touching. Phillip Arditti plays Oliver, Orlando’s brother, who is a villainous and sinister presence in Act 1 but has a major transformation in Act 2 in order to unexpectedly win Celia’s hand. The character of Touchstone is wonderfully played by Mark Benton. Benton plays his character as gruff, cynical and bearlike; a commonsense , earthy ‘fool’. Paul Chahidi portrays his character Jacques as a bit of a misanthrope; cynical, scornful, world weary, and aloof. Chahidi delivers the Seven Ages of Man speech artfully. Alan Williams’ Corin the shepherd is no dull dimwitted figure of fun rustic but a rueful, alert observer. Ken Nwosu as Silvius, and Gemma Lawrence as Phebe, also depict the unhappy fractured reality behind the fantasy of pastoral idyllic love. This was a multi layered, richly textured AS YOU LIKE IT that leads to a joyful conclusion. Running time – allow 3 hours 15 mins including one interval The NT Live screenings of AS YOU LIKE IT play at selected cinemas from 19 March 2016.