This was an intriguing and innovative portrayal of one of the bard’s best known comedies performed by an all male cast of eleven. It was a brilliantly comic reworking, and proof that Shakespeare can be very funny indeed, although it is worth noting that the laughs died down a fair bit towards the end in favour of plot resolution.
They tell the story of quarrelling brothers and abject lovers infused with a chaotic modern day aesthetic, exemplified by their use of fast paced contemporary music with the scene changes. This helped to keep a great level of energy throughout the piece, which the actors were able to springboard off. There were laughs aplenty during a fantastically homoerotic gym scene; both Rosalind and Celia, whilst possessing the hilarity of pantomime dames, appeared somehow endearing by the conclusion. A very able cast included a talented musician who had the audience in stitches with a couple of clever musical gags. Special mention should also go to Phoebe who strutted her stuff as a shepherdess with bitchy camp finesse.
Whilst staying true to the original text, the real brilliance of the show was down to a clever reinterpretation and playful exploration of modern word usage and connotations. There was great imagination with the staging and much humour to be found outwith of the dialogue. A hugely entertaining, comical and accessible reimagining of the play.
