As You Like It - review

[Jane Zussman]

Along with your camp chair, bring a jacket and a lap blanket and you will be more likely to like As You Like It, the Shakespearean comedy under the stars at LCC’s amphitheater behind Dart Auditorium. (We blame our unpreparedness on the overheated weather that graced MSU’s outdoor shows we saw in recent weeks.)

Though my reception of the show ended a bit chilly, the warmth and energy of director Mary Job’s cast of 22 convincingly portraying the convoluted web of eventually requited romances. Sally Hecksel as Rosalind and Louis C. Elson as Orlando were particularly convincing in their ridiculous but endearing courtship where Rosalind was “disguised” as a boy. 

This is a good script for schools since there are a lot of significant roles. Besides the compelling Sally and Louis, I particularly enjoyed the coquettish Rachel Daugherty, overwrought Edward Heldt, lofty Steve Ledyard, eloquent Kameron Going, and down-to-earth Charles Hoogstraten.  Mary directed this show in LCC’s black box in December of 2013. I can quote my old review because the same compliment applies, “...despite my personal tendency to get muddled by Shakespearian language, the actors, well directed by Mary Job, each had a clear attitude and intent which brought the meaning through in spite of me.”

Be sure to read Director Mary’s program note which advises that As You Like It is "at its heart, is a play about finding where you belong” and gives an overview of the challenges faced and how characters find opportunities to grow in the mysterious Forest of Arden. 

Kudos to costume designer Chelle Peterson for her interpretation of the “setting/time” in which this production was set: “a here and now of our collective imaginations” — which took shape in ways that evoked “period” costumes without being period costumes — a lot of patchwork and motley, layered dress that felt appropriate and expressed character. Danni Bott was the “orchestra” standing by, singing a couple old English folk songs with her guitar and also useing it to create effective “fanfares” for notable entrances. Choreographer Laureen Mudry engineered the rollicking final dance number.

As You Like it continues through Sunday at 7 each night, free of charge, but bring a few bucks for the scholarship fund; they do pass the basket. In case of rain, it will move into the nearby Dart Auditorium. 

Jane Zussman

G.L.U.T. List

(Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatre)

517-323-6855

cell 517-930-0932

JSZu...@gmail.com

http://www.greaterlansingtheatre.net 

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