Photo by Scott Suchman, courtesy of Shakespeare Theatre Company
[Note: I had the opportunity to attend the opening night performance of Sheakespeare Theatre Company's production of "As You Like It." My friend, Torey, joined me, and provided the below write-up about it. Generally, we both recommend it for a grown-up outing, but older kids who can sit through long productions might enjoy it, too.]
“As You Like It” is another wonderful production by Shakespeare Theater Company. The comedy of mistaken identity (and love, of course) will remind you of what Shakespeare did best: Create a tangled plot that lures you in with compelling characters and poetic verse.
The story is about Rosalind, who (disguised as a boy) runs away to the Forest of Arden with her cousin, Celia, fleeing her mean uncle. Throughout their journey, the two meet many interesting characters, including Rosalind’s love interest, Orlando, whom she encounters as he competes in a wrestling match in the forest. You’ll recognize one of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches, “All the world’s a stage…”, spoken by Jaques, a traveller they encounter along the way.
The cast of As You Like It is superb. Opening night shows can often come with kinks that haven’t quite been ironed out yet, but this performance was spot on, and the actors delivered as if they were months into it. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it should surprise and delight if you enjoy seeing a talented cast come together and truly have fun on stage.
As You Like It is running at the Lansburgh Theatre through December 14. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 877-487-8849. The running time is 2 hours and 45 minutes, including intermission.
