‘As You Like It’ is a big, beautiful blast at Lenox

                David Begelman

 

Theater Critic

If you’ve ever harbored any reservations about the capability of Shakespeare & Company, your doubts should be dispelled on the spot while savoring its current production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” This is as stellar a staging of a Shakespeare play you’re likely to see in many a moon.

It’s not the only comedy of the bard in which a female character hides her true identity in male garb (“Merchant of Venice” and “Twelfth Night” contain such conceits), nor the only one in which a woman seeks refuge in a forest (“Midsummer Night’s Dream” includes this scenario.) But for a heroine bestowed with a mother load of ingenuity and personal resources, Rosalind is up there with the best of them. Exile in the Forest of Arden is pretty much a cakewalk for her.

The actress who portrays her in this production, Merritt Janson, is such a bundle of talent, her every word, gesture—and even her gymnastic sallies—are delightful, springing as they do from an obvious wellspring of ability topped with a fetching smile.

Janson is surrounded by a team of performers whose portrayals only enhance the attractiveness of this production. Although many different styles of performance grace the latter, Director Tony Simotes has calibrated them so deftly, there’s not a downbeat or discordant note anywhere in the effort.

The comic relief in this staging simply has to be seen in order to be appreciated. Humorous touches, delivered with on-cue precision by several cast members entrusted with the lion’s share of creating jollity, need to be mentioned. They are: Jonathan Epstein in a wily and hilarious rendition of Touchstone, Malcolm Ingram as the faithful, but doddering retainer Adam, who always manages to convey the impression he is on the brink of death, Kevin O’Donnell as the puffed-up Charles the Wrestler, Dana Harrison as the flighty Phebe, and Jennie M. Jadow as the lusty Audrey.

In less comedic characterizations, Tony Roach was full of youthful vigor and romantic longing as Orlando; Johnny Lee Davenport turned in sturdy portrayals as the competing potentates, Duke Frederick and Duke Senior, while Wolfe Coleman crafted a commendable performance as Orlando’s nasty brother, Oliver.

Kelly Curran was especially riveting as Rosalind’s close friend, Celia, and the scenes between her and Janson were in the opinion of this reviewer among the highlights of the show.

Director Simotes chose to adapt a Parisian 1920 ambience for the setting of the play, and if you failed to consult the playbill, you’d be a bit perplexed why the sound of the “La Marseillaise” was being piped in, or military types on stage were prancing around in French legionnaire uniforms. Maybe Simotes attached more importance to this than necessary; the setting and costumes could have been Elizabethan, Jacobean or Edwardian without any appreciable sacrifice to the overall quality of this production.

Serious theatergoers shouldn’t forfeit the opportunity to catch this impressive show. Bravo!

“As You Like It” runs through September 4 at the Founders’ Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, Mass. Performances are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees 2 p.m. Tickets are $10-$85 and may be purchased by calling the box office at 413-637-3353 or online at www.shakespeare.org.