REVIEW: Actors’ Shakespeare Project and Theater Offensive stage bold classic ‘As You Like it’
The name says so much. Directed zealously by Harold Steward, Shakespeare’s As You like It is wide open to interpretation and Actors’ Shakespeare Project and the Theater Offensive take full advantage of Shakespeare’s broad title and sentiment with their production of As You Like It continuing live and in person at Tufts University’s Balch Arena Theatre in Medford, MA through June 25. The show has some mature themes. Click here for more information and tickets which includes pay what you can seats.
As You Like It has a modern spirit in its colorful and unique two story setting by Ben Lieberson of pastel hued Arden complete with textured trees. Greatly considered a musical comedy, Harold Steward navigates its contemporary sound design filled with club and classic love songs as well as rich harmony such as Blow, Blow, thou winter wind sung live in the forest. Even love struck Mishka Yarovoy as Orlando hums a classic Annie Lennox tune and a shimmering chime can be heard between scenes. Steward’s dynamic costumes have a certain edge and whimsy, but the play itself is traditional Shakespeare in its text and Balch’s beautiful and traditional Shakespeare staging in the round is framed in alternating neon pinks, greens and blues by Amanda E. Fallon.
As the story goes, As You Like it focuses on family rivalry as well as forbidden love and the lengths in which one must go in the name of it. As one who has depicted Shakespeare’s Henry V onstage, As You Like It features swapped gender roles popular in many of Shakespeare’s productions. Bobbie Steinbach delivers a standout performance as Jaques who declares the classic monologue, ‘All the World’s A Stage’ with depth and contemplation as only a sage storyteller can. Steinbach has charisma, stature and is a bit of a scene stealer expressing all of Jacques’ melancholy and musings. Fady Demian in one of three roles is memorable as old shepherd Corin as he delivers some zingers petering around Arden. Lindsay Eagle delights as the ruthless Charles and the infatuated Phoebe as Nathan Malin’ s poor shepherd Silvius, in hopeless love with Phoebe, gazes on. Malin and Eagle have quite a few awkwardly amusing moments, but Malin’s sheer enthusiasm, goofy charm, and sharp comic timing bring lighthearted cheer to the production, breaking any tense moment.
Mishka Yarovou portrays reserved, shy, and unassuming Orlando who falls for the absolutely glowing Rosalind, portrayed by Genevieve Simon. Simon shares a playful and exuberant chemistry and equally charming is the camaraderie and love between Simon and Regine Vital as Rosalind’s witty and beautiful cousin Celia. They are inseparable and Vitale shines as Celia who spends much of the production a spectator of love. Vitale’s reactions throughout the show are relatable, humorous, and express much of what the audience is thinking.
Love games, familial love, love notes, love in disguise, love triangles, love lessons, love schemes, fool’s love, silliness, unpredictable matches, ideas on wives versus maids, and many other amusing high jinx dwell in the Forest of Arden lit by a series of multicolored lamps. Much of Shakespeare’s wisdom is entwined about love and life, but personal favorites include that love is to be made up of sighs and tears as well as all adoration, duty, and observance. While Shakespeare explores idealistic and romantic love, it also examines the solid foundation of true love, one full of duty and grace which cannot easily be broken.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project and the Theater Offensive take full advantage of Shakespeare’s broad title and sentiment with their production of As You Like It continuing live and in person at Tufts University’s Balch Arena Theatre in Medford, MA through June 25. The show has some mature themes. Click here for more information and tickets which includes pay what you can seats.
