BWW Reviews: Suffield Players' AS YOU LIKE IT is As We Like It

As You Like It
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Chris Rohmann
for Suffield Players at Mapleton Hall, 1305 Mapleton Avenue, Suffield, CT through May 18
www.suffieldplayers.org

A few weeks back, I had the outrageous misfortune to see Yale Repertory Theatre's much-anticipated production of Hamlet. Although a canonical work, the play is not produced often due to its length and the need to cast just the right actor in one of the most Herculean roles in theatre. Yale Rep's biggest liability was in its greatest asset: its star, New Haven native and Yale School of Drama alum Paul Giamatti. His performance was so hammy it could have been served with cloves, pineapple rings and a glaze. Despite an above-title star, an all-stops-pulled production, a $90-a-ticket charge, and an Ivy League pedigree, I found the play painful to watch.

Connecticut's Tony Award-winning regionals trot out Shakespeare almost every other year and, more often than not, just can't do the Bard a favor. Well, do YOURSELF a favor, and hightail it out to an historic grange hall in lovely, bucolic Suffield to catch a delightful production of As You Like It. You read that correctly: a low-budget community theatre is doing better by Shakespeare than the big boys.

Directed with a light touch by Chris Rohmann, Suffield Players' 60^th Anniversary Season closer is pretty much what one would hope in a Shakespearean comedy. Although this As You Like It is not without its flaws, it is closer to the writer's intent than many of the over-produced, dubiously-conceived recent professional Connecticut productions of the Bard of Avon's works.

For those unfamiliar with this particular play, it bears most of the hallmarks of Shakespeare's comedies: mistaken identities, cross-dressing, thwarted lovers in exile, etc. The first scenes take place in Duke Frederick's palace after he has usurped the throne from his brother Duke Senior, exiling him to the Forest of Arden. Running a fascist state, Frederick also ends up exiling the handsome Orlando, as well as his own niece, Rosalind. Unwittingly, he also affects the defection of his own daughter Celia and the court's clown, Touchstone.

Having dispatched half of the court into the Forest of Arden, Shakespeare is now free to settle into his true intent: scrambling four couples in the woods until love finds its true course and, naturally, a multiple-wedding occurs. Director Rohmann has superbly cast his leads, with hardly a flaw among the lovers.

As Orlando, Rylan Morsbach is a dashing figure, but believably and likeably lovelorn for his fair Rosalind. As Orlando's love interest, Becky Rodia Schoenfeld makes a sharp and intelligent Rosalind. As in all Shakespeare cross-dressing scenarios, one must willingly suspend disbelief and accept that somewhat male clothing and a ponytail render Schoenfeld unrecognizable to her one true love and her father.

As Celia, Amanda Marschall is a lovely charmer. Her effortless stage presence and facility with the dialogue show great promise. As Oliver, Orlando's at-first nasty brother, Daniel Viets does not display the same comfort on the boards, but works hard to put his character across.

Robert Lunde's bizarre turn as the clown Touchstone is a scene-stealing riot. In a weird meta-conceit, Touchstone communicates to and with a Shakespeare puppet. It is a hilarious twist with the character morphing into the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten with South Park's Mr. Hat. Lunde is ably matched by Nicole R. Giguere's daffy and randy Audrey. The fourth couple is humorously and energetically played by Rayah Martin as the feisty tomboy Phebe and Nathan Rumney as the lovelorn yokel Silvius.

Ed Bernstein takes the wry, bookish Jaques in extremely thoughtful directions. A philosopher amongst bumpkins, the role is a bit tough to pull off, but Bernstein proves to be the most adept onstage at interpreting the language. If Yale Rep had to cast someone too old and nebbishy to play Hamlet, they should have given Bernstein a call.

Some of the secondary and tertiary roles in the piece are played stiffly and our first introduction to the rustics who populate Arden is a bit dull. Hopefully, the first-performance nerves will loosen up and the cast will relax into the wilds of one of Shakespeare's most delicious romps. Again, do yourself a favor, save $70 and go check out Suffield Players' simple, effervescent As You Like It.

Photo of Ed Bernstein courtesy of Suffield Players.

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