As You Like It
Everyone enjoys a romantic comedy, even to this day, and with As You Like It, audiences can enjoy one of the earliest in existence with Shakespeare’s classic tale of troubled lovers. It appears as part of “The Bridge Project” at the Old Vic Theatre opposite another production in the form of “The Tempest”, with Sam Mendes taking on the duties of director alongside a talented team of actors.
This Shakespearean classic will feature a large cast that includes Stephen Dillane, Christian Camargo and Juliet Rylance, as well as Ashlie Atkinson, Jenni Barber, Michelle Beck, Edward Bennett, Ron Cephas Jones Alvin Epstein, Jonathan Fried, Richard Hansell, Aaron Krohn, Anthony O’Donnell, Thomas Sadoski, Michael Thomas and Ross Waiton.
“The Bridge Project” is now in its third year at the venue and with Sam Mendes they have a director who is capable of bringing the very best onto the stage. An acclaimed theatre and movie director, Mendes is responsible for some of the most acclaimed movies of the last decade, including the Academy Award-winning “American Beauty”, which earned him the accolade of Best Director amongst others. The versatile talent, he has also directed “Jarhead”, “Road to Perdition”, “Revolutionary Road” and, most recently, “Away We Go”, whilst his theatre work has seen renowned productions appear in London. These include the first staging of “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” with Jane Horrocks at the National Theatre, as well as “The Blue Room” with Nicole Kidman at the Donmar Warehouse. Now he returns to direct his second year of “The Bridge Project”, with Shakespeare’s classic comedy getting the Sam Mendes treatment.
The plight of two young lovers is the focus of As You Like It, in which Rosalind and Orlando are forced to flee to the Forest of Arden to allow their feelings to flourish. Away from the court they are free to let their relationship blossom in a way that would be impossible under the watch of others. With the fear of death the alternative, they don disguises and head to the forest where they encounter a series of strange and surreal situations. Amongst the lust under the canopy of trees they fall victim to mistaken identity and discover a hidden secret from Rosalind’s past.
As You Like It is at the Old Vic Theatre as part of “The Bridge Project” from Saturday 12th June 2010 to Saturday 21st August 2010.
