The Globe's summer season continues with a chilly night in the forest of Arden for Sean Holmes' and Charlie Josephine's co-directed As You Like It. The collaborative direction runs the risk of too many cooks spoiling the broth; however, this is not at all the case in this instance. Instead, the broth is simply marvellous!
As well as co-directing, Josephine leads us from the elitist courtroom as the young protagonist Orlando, escaping the shadow of his elder brother Oliver, played by Thomas Josling. In a parallel dissuasion to the courtroom antics, Rosalind, excellently played by Lola Shalam, and her accomplice Celia, played by Grace Oddie-James, also escape to the forest because the Duke Frederick feels threatened by Rosalind's bloodline. To avoid detection and nefarious consequences, Rosalind disguises herself as a male counterpart named ‘Ganymede' whilst accomplice Celia is disguised as his sister ‘Aliene'.
As we like it, or loathe it, we venture through the forest of Arden, creatively represented in ever-growing chalk and paint illustrations, defining the changing of the seasons as per Paul Wills' design. During Orlando's travels, he meets Rosalind in disguise as Ganymede. At first, she ridicules him for his over-the-top proclamations of love for Rosalind, and then encourages him to woo her (disguised) self as if she were his muse.
Throughout the changing of the seasons, the fickle swaying of romantic feelings ensues as local forest dweller Phoebe, played by Molly Madigan, falls in love with the disguised Rosalind - evading her suitor Silvius, played by Busa Wickramasuriya. Meanwhile, court jester Touchstone, played by Jonnie Broadbent, (rather erotically) pursues forest dweller Audrey, played by Phoebe Naughton.
The balance of comedic folly and romantic soppiness results in an entertaining frolic in the woods. Broadbent's Touchstone is immediately enjoyable with just the right amount of audience engagement erring on the tasteful side of pantomime, whilst Joesphine's love-sick protagonist is suitably pathetic. Yet somehow, they remain likeable.
The real highlight of Holmes' and Josephine's As You Like It is Shalam's Rosalind. Her vocal and physical performance is mesmerising, and her ownership of the stage and the forest itself is a joy to experience. Shalam's relationship with Oddie-James' Celia is thoroughly entertaining with bundles of laugh-out-loud moments.
The entire ensemble is really well cast and the magic of the forest is definitely not one to miss.
Review: Sebastian Calver Photos: Marc Brenner