Jessica Harris is left feeling flat by this RSC production.
In a summer of uncertain weather, on the outdoor stage of the RSC’s Holloway Garden Theatre, a shortened version of As You Like It makes a lot of sense. And the backdrop of the River Avon, with chestnut trees overhead, provides a perfect setting for this most pastoral of plays. Yet, although court scenes have been cut in favour of forest scenes, whilst characters speak (and sing) of the halcyon nature of country life, and while the play’s rustic characters are given free rein, the sense of a rural idyll isn’t fully realised in this production.
Some of this has to do with its staging. A minimalist set, made up of wooden slats painted in subdued colours, is the only effect used. As the action moves to the forest, sections of slats are positioned at angles to represent trees. There are no soft edges here, nor any other visual suggestion of the verdant and nurturing environment of the forest and its contrast with the friction of court life.
As a result, the actors seem to have their work cut out for them, playing variously scenes of love, flirtation and bawdiness across a space that feels vast and austere. And they did so gamely, drawing on a range of regional accents from Brummie to Northern Irish to Geordie. Celia, played by Christina Tedders, was vibrant and playful, and an effective contrast to the more restrained Rosalind, played by Letty Thomas.
On press night, the character of Orlando was played from a chair at the side of the stage due to an injury sustained by actor Luke Brady. Peter Dukes as Charles the Wrestler made a virtue of this in an adept performance of one-man wrestling act and Brady was a strong presence despite being confined to the spot. Touchstone, played by Duncan Wisbey, gave the comedy element a good shot, showing simultaneously that this wily character has little of the fool about him.
Jacques, played by Trevor Fox, was as cynical as you could wish for, his seven ages of man speech being delivered with a deep pessimism. But, as the staging around him was as dry as his delivery, the lack of contrast with the wider setting did little to ensure that his impact landed.
At the core of As You Like It is the theme of romantic love, and the disparity between the notions of idealised and realistic love. Orlando’s love for Rosalind was clear, and contrasted well with the devious schemes of Touchstone towards the naïve Audrey, played by Susannah Van Den Berg. Nonetheless, passions all round were difficult to communicate across the empty space, and at times the production felt a little flat.
Actors doubled as musicians with songs ranging from a melancholic interpretation of Heigh-ho, the Holly, to a lovely choral rendition of It was a Lover and his Lass. The finale which saw the marriage of three happy couples was set to a swing number, leaving all with a final feelgood factor.
Something of a mixed bag, As You Like It is accessible and, starting at 5pm and with a running time of 1 hour 20 minutes, likely to go down well with families and children. It was directed by Brendan O’Hea.
It is on at the RSC, Stratford until 1st September and For further information visit rsc.org.uk.
Pics – Marc Brenner © RSC
