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Theatre listings >
As You Like It
As You Like It - Glasgow Rep Company Production
Rosalind, Emma Larsson and Orlando, Simeon Wren
© photographer 2002
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Playwright - William Shakespeare
Director - Scott Palmer
Adapted for the Gardens by Francis Hagan and Scott Palmer
Assistant Director - Kate Varney
Production Manager - Pete Searle
Designer - Sarah Pauley
Stage Manager - Kay Hesford
Dramaturg - Francis Hagan
Design Assistant - Yen Mo
Company - Glasgow Rep Company
Venues - Callendar House Callendar Park Falkirk 25 - 31 May and then
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Dates, Times and ticket info - see end of review
Reviewer - Thelma Good
Enthusiastic life in real surroundings
A play about love, and whether women can live as independent men set
by Shakespeare in a court and then in the untamed nature of a forest is
given enthusiastic life in real surroundings by Glasgow Rep Company.
This company are doing three Shakespeares in this their first season,
As You like It is the first - on this showing they're going to be interesting
interpretations which pick up on the clues to theatre business Shakespeare
put in his scripts. The director and his team also show in the Falkirk
performances good choice of places to perform the various scenes in a
promenade leading us into the glorious trees and blooming rhodies - God's
scenery can't be beat! And seats are provided for longer scenes.
In a mainly young cast of recently trained actors, some roles are perforce
played by actors younger than the playwright intended, but they rise to
the challenge and we quickly forget their lack of wrinkles. Dramaturg
Francis Hagan and Director Scott Palmer have also adjusted Shakespeare's
story to their requirements, retaining the playful spirit of the play
and most of its underlying serious themes, the banished Duke becoming
a Duchess adding to the original's feel of order being usurped in the
forest.
As You Like It - Glasgow Rep Company Production
Phoebe, Jennifer Dick and Silivius, Jamie Neil
© photographer 2002
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Simeon Wren is Orlando, the younger son kept poorly by his brother
Oliver. Orlando is struck by Cupid's arrow, when fighting his brother's
pugnacious wrestler, Jamie Neil, their fight is a contest of brute
against bantam wit. Orlando's smitten by Rosalind, Emma Larsson,
she too feels the arrow's force only to find he's fled the court. Taking
off to follow him with her cousin Celia, Rosalind assumes the guise of Ganymede,
a young man. Wren plays naive lover Orlando well, in the forest trying
in his ardour a bout of hilarious tree hugging and then dancing off, after
strewing the branches of trees with his verses which we encounter dangling
from the trees. He contrasts with the knowing rustic Silvius, Jamie Neil
and his hard to get swain Phoebe, Jennifer Dick who finds the tall
Ganymede more to her favour. The scene where the four try to gain their
love is hilariously well played by all. Throughout Celia, in a clear portrayal
by Johanna Scoular, tries to ensure nothing goes too amiss until
her eye falls on that brother Oliver and oops, Cupid's firing in all directions.
Touchstone, encountered in Court and forest, a wonderfully beribboned
performance from Paul Gillingwater provides another contrast, with
sobersides Jacques, Francis Hagan, who doesn't quite get the character's
highly amusing pretentiousness. His priestly garb is the only costume
that doesn't work for the character - it suggests too much. Rustic or
courtly the others do work, in particular those courtly ones, with their
ribbons and slashed sleeves galore, provide visual hints of an order that
seeks to be untied and released.
With runs in Falkirk and Glasgow this production should develop from its
already promising opening with actors who know how to project and act
in the theatrically liberating outdoors.
© Thelma Good 25 May 2002
The Court
Orlando: Simeon Wren
Mary: Carrie Westwater
Oliver: Seth Hardwick
Charles: Jamie Niel
Rosalind: Emma Larsson
Celia: Johanna Scoular
Touchstone: Paul Gillingwater
The Duke: Francis Hagan
The Forest
The Duchess: Sarah Chalcroft
Amiens: Tim Barrow
Jacques: Francis Hagan
Corin: Seth Hardwick
Silvius: Jamie Niel
Phoebe: Jennifer Dick
Hymen: Carrie Westwater
Other Glasgow Rep Productions
The Tempest
Summer 2002
Kabuki -
Titus Spring/Summmer 2002
Dates,
Times and Venues
Callendar Park as part of Big
In Falkirk
Tip arrive in good time to find the place especially if you need to
park a car, Map of Falkirk will help as you will have to park in
Falkirk town centre a walk away unless you are disabled. There are
train and buses services too, allow 10- 15 minutes walk from train station.
Tickets in advance 01324 506 850 and tickets also available at
Box office at Callendar Park £5/£3 Family tkt 2 adults, 2
children £15 Performance last 2hrs
25 - 26 May at 6pm
27 - 31 May at 7pm with matinees on 28 & 30 May
at 1pm
then moves to
Glasgow's Botanic Gardens as part of the West
End Festival
Tickets
in advance 0141 330 5522 Unsold tickets available at main gate
30 mins before each performance £8/£6
19 - 22 June and 25 - 29 June at 9pm
30 June at 2pm
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