12 November 2015
As You Like It
at the National
reviewed by Adam McCormack
William Shakespeare meets Jordan Belfort. The aspect of Polly Findlay’s new production of “As You Like It” for the National that is most likely to gain plaudits is the jaw-dropping scene change from a manic dealing room to a post-apocalyptic Forest of Arden. The Forest is created by the steady lifting of dealing desks, desk lamps and chairs to form a dense thicket of twisting metal and wood which, quite rightly, held the audience in awe. The only problem is that, while this may suit the melancholic demeanour of Jaques de Bois (he of “All the world’s a stage”), it does not seem the correct backdrop for the interaction between Rosalind and Orlando. The Forest may be dark but it should have an underlying beauty rather than dystopian desolation.
However, I should return to my “Wolf of Wall Street” reference at the outset. The dealing room environment for the Court of Duke Frederick would certainly be comfortable for Jordan Belfort and, while the wrestling scenes are not as uncomfortable to watch as dwarf throwing , they do fit well with a chorus of 1980’s loud-jacketed dealers. The use of dealing screens to illustrate forests and the positioning of bonsai trees stops just short of being too clever, and we are left comfortable with the credibility of banishment and self-imposed exile from such a situation. It is only when we move to the forest scenes that the vehicle Ms Findlay uses starts to struggle (although the use of a myriad of post-it notes for Orlando to displays his affection is clever), and, even here, the production is saved by some very strong performances.
Joe Bannister is an athletic and suitably gullible Orlando and Rosalie Craig a feisty and convincing Rosalind. Mark Benton shows that he has talents beyond mainstream TV with all the key attributes of a Shakespearean fool, but the star for me was Patsy Feran, whose comic timing as Celia was nothing short of brilliant. The production does successfully create the sense of joy in reconciliation of brothers and the bringing together of couples to leave the audience suitably uplifted, if a little confused over the setting.
