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A CurtainUp
Review
As You Like It
This summer's production of As You Like It marks the sixth
mounting of the play. Five of the six previous Stratford productions
were staged on the thrust stage of the Festival Theatre. This
iteration is placed within the proscenium stage of the Avon Theatre,
and perhaps that makes all the difference. Jeannette Lambermont's
direction is too often unfocussed and lacking in organic shape. It
is passing strange that a timeless (mostly Elizabethan) visualization
of this romantic comedy (perhaps the Bard's least profound of this
genre) should be seen on a late 19th century stage rather than on the
Festivals's thrust platform.
The best thing about this As You Like It is Lucy Peacock as
Rosalind. While not the marquee performer who was seen in last
season's Berkshire production, Ms. Peacock is a Rosalind to
celebrate. (Berkshire review) Her strength and charm work for her equally as woman and
youth. Now in her 13th season at the Festival, she is far and away
the best and most vital performer in this otherwise too often
lackluster production. Her predecessors on the Festival stage
included such luminaries as Irene Worth (1959), Maggie Smith (1977)
and Roberta Maxwell (1990). . . not a bad heritage.
It remains only to mention that Juan Chioran would likely have been,
in another mounting of the play, an admirable Jaques. While his
performance as the Knight in Stratford's Man of La Mancha two
years ago left much to be desired, his Jaques was both focussed and
wonderfully dour, and might well have been a fine counterpoint to a
more spirited reading of the play.
AS YOU LIKE IT
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Richard Monette
Cast: Duke Frederick - Robert Benson; Rosalind - Lucy Peacock; Celia
- Jacklyn Francis; Le Beau - Bruce Dow; Charles - Tim Campbell;
Touchstone - Brian Tree; Oliver - Jonathan Goad; Orlando - Donald
Carrier; Adam - Joseph Shaw; Dennis - Rami Posner; Duke Senior -
Jerry Franken; Amiens - Steve Ross; Jaques - Juan Chioran; Corin -
Lewis Gordon; Silvius - Michael Therriault; Phoebe - Michelle Giroux;
Audrey - Deborah Hay
Set and Costumes: Douglas Paraschuk
Lighting: Louise Guinand
Composer: Keith Thomas
Sound Design: Wade Staples
Choreographer: Donna Feore
Fight Director: John Stead
Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes with one intermission
Avon Theatre at the Stratford Festival
Stratford, Ontario
From May 8 to November 4, 2000;
Reviewed June 9, 2000 based on June 7 matinee
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