As You Like It
Royal Shakespeare Company
at the Barbican
Julia Pascal
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most crazy comedies and one of his most tedious plots.
The first act is all exposition set in the corruption of the court but the rest of the play flies free when the action shifts to the Forest of Arden. Kimberley Sykes’ inventive reading of this early Shakespeare is joyous. Her cross -casting made perfect sense in this Shakespearian romp on sexuality, gender and lust.
Sykes has found a hugely gifted actor as Rosalind. Lucy Phelps has charisma, physical and vocal variety and is a quicksilver presence. She is well supported by Sophie Khan Levy as Celia who is a terrific singer and comedian. Sandy Grierson, Laura Elsworthy, Tom Dawze, Charlotte Arrowsmith and Amelia Donkor are deliciously daffy as Shakespeare’s various clowns, fools and comic relief. Stephen Brimson’s set was an inventive Arden and the pagan fertility goddess is a clever coup de théatre as a final tableau.
Julia Pascal © 2019.
As You Like It
Royal Shakespeare Company
at the Barbican
Julia Pascal
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most crazy comedies and one of his most tedious plots.
The first act is all exposition set in the corruption of the court but the rest of the play flies free when the action shifts to the Forest of Arden. Kimberley Sykes’ inventive reading of this early Shakespeare is joyous. Her cross -casting made perfect sense in this Shakespearian romp on sexuality, gender and lust.
Sykes has found a hugely gifted actor as Rosalind. Lucy Phelps has charisma, physical and vocal variety and is a quicksilver presence. She is well supported by Sophie Khan Levy as Celia who is a terrific singer and comedian. Sandy Grierson, Laura Elsworthy, Tom Dawze, Charlotte Arrowsmith and Amelia Donkor are deliciously daffy as Shakespeare’s various clowns, fools and comic relief. Stephen Brimson’s set was an inventive Arden and the pagan fertility goddess is a clever coup de théatre as a final tableau.
Julia Pascal © 2019.
By Julia Pascal • plays, theatre • Tags: Julia Pascal, plays, theatre