Review: Seattle Shakes' LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST - A RomCom That Needs Focus

Sometimes Shakespeare is all about murder and revenge and history and import and sometimes it's just a goofy romp through the ins and outs of the heart. And "Love's Labour's Lost" from the Seattle Shakespeare Company currently playing at the Center Theatre is definitely part of the latter group. Probably the biggest example of Shakespeare at his most frivolous, the production definitely had its shining moments but tended to betray its own story near the end and whether that's the script or the direction, it left me a little wanting.

It's a pretty simple story. Ferdinand, King of Navarre (Jason Sanford) and his three noble companions Longaville, Dumaine and Berowne (Jonathan Crimeni, Jay Meyers and Paul Stuart) have sequestered themselves at Ferdinand's estate to devote themselves to study for three years abjuring the company of women. But when the Princess of France (Samara Lerman) and her three attendants Maria, Katharine and Rosaline (Allie Pratt, Rebecca Olson and Kayla Lian) arrive for an audience with the King, the men (of course) fall instantly in love with the ladies and despite all their protestations and oaths proceed to attempt to woo them through gifts and love poems ineptly delivered by the foolish Costard (Mike Dooly). Then there's the over posturing Don Adrianno de Armado (David Quicksall) who has been smitten by the country wench Jaquenetta (Donna Wood). And if all that weren't enough, we have two scholars, Holoferenes and Sir Nathaniel (Allen Armstrong and George Mount) who are constantly having battles of words with each other and a play within a play where the learned men attempt to portray the Nine Worthies (ideals of chivalry) to the ladies and gentlemen. And it's those last two elements where they lose me. They just seemed so tacked on and the behavior of the gentlemen during the play is so abhorrent that you wonder why you've been rooting for them all along and why these ladies care for them. But like I said, that's just in the script and we can't really call up Will and ask him for a rewrite but we can attempt to play it a little more fun and a little less jerky so we still care for the men and that's what I wished director Jon Kretzu had managed.

Having said that there are still some fine performances throughout. Stuart manages a thoughtful and clear Berowne and keeps him grounded and focused. Crimeni has character for days as the foppish Longaville and his facial expressions are an absolute joy. Lian is likable and fun as the counterpart to Berowne and was almost able to match his level of intention. At times I saw a glimmer of a Tracy and Hepburn quality with the two. Quicksall turns in a fine puffed up lothario and keeps him honest yet fun. And Dooly practically walks off with every scene he's in with his lecherous buffoonery and laser focused intent.

With a vibrant yet practical set from Andrea Bryn Bush, the show is a solid one. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad but it was fun. I only wish they could have found a way to keep it consistently engaging and kept the guys from devolving into unlikable douche bags in the end.

"Love's Labour's Lost" from Seattle Shakespeare Company performs at the Center Theatre through April 7^th. For tickets or information contact the Seattle Shakes' box office at 206-733-8222 or visit them online at www.seattleshakespeare.org.

Photo credit: John Ulman

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