Reviewed by James Karas
The 2019 production of As
You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre directed by Federay Holmes
and Elle While is pure excrement. It is not so much a performance as an
endurance test. I lasted until intermission and left promptly.
As You Like It
opens with the young Orlando complaining to the very old servant Adam about the
treatment he is receiving from his older brother. Orlando is a man and is
played by Bettrys Jones, a woman. Old Adam is played by Simon Scardfield, a
young actor.
Duke Frederick is the bad guy and
his brother Duke Senior is the good guy. Frederick deposed his brother who has
gone to the Forest of Arden where he is living with some companions. Both parts
are played by Lily Bevan who tries to be funny, uses her hands excessively and
is less than you expect or deserve.
The main characters are Senior’s
daughter Rosalind and Frederick’s daughter Celia. The two of them escape to the
forest to be with Senior and seek love. Rosalind is played by Jack Laskey, a
lanky man, two feet taller than Orlando with whom s/he will fall in love.
Celia is played by Nadia
Nadarajah, a mute who communicates using sign language. That means that we do
not hear any of her lines except when they are interpreted for us. Some of the
other characters sign or appear to sign when addressing her. I thought some of
them signed whether she was near them or not or they simply flailed their arms.
Being unable to speak is indeed a tragedy but giving her a role like Celia
makes no sense at all. Why would you do it?
Jaques, the character who
delivers The Seven Ages of Man speech is played Sophie Stone. Initially I
thought she had a bizarre accent but then I realized that she probably has a
speech impediment. She used her arms a great deal and moved almost continually.
The programme biography indicates that she is the Co-Founder of the Deaf and
Hearing Ensemble Theatre Company which means her speaking disability is related
to her hearing issues.
Twelve actors play twenty plus roles
and one of the gimmicks is to have them change parts in front of the audience.
They turn their coats inside out or some such effort and, presto, they become
another character. If there is a rational reason for doing this, it has escaped
me. Directorial arrogance, an attempt at being different or original may be the
ungenerous explanation but I will leave it at that.
There are attempts to engage the yardlings
but they were not nearly as successful as in Henry V. There were
a few in the audience who found the gags hilarious but not that many. I lasted
until the intermission of an unfunny, unShakespearean, unbelievable and unendurable
performance.
__________
As You Like It
by William Shakespeare continues until September 21, 2019 at Shakespeare’s
Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, London. www.shakespearesglobe.com
James Karas is the Senior Editor - Culture of The Greek Press.
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