As You Like It – mac, Birmingham

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: Sam Dinnage

Blue Duck Theatre Company is a group of emerging artists from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire bringing a silly, summery production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It to the Midlands Arts Centre (mac). This high-energy comedy is a good first foray into the world of Shakespeare for the performers but leaves something to be desired in the storytelling and comprehension for audiences, especially those new to the story.

As You Like It follows the blossoming love of Rosalind and Orlando, torn apart by unfortunate circumstances of power-hungry relatives and hidden identity, set within the chaos of the Forest of Arden. Academics think this was an earlier play – some of the text is sloppier than later Shakespeare but the style and plot devices are inherently recognisable (Rosalind disguising herself as a man, poetry, unrequited love, a witty fool, and troubling familial and court politics). The play is also home to one of The Bard’s most famous speeches: “All the world’s a stage.”

At the start, both Rosalind and Orlando are facing poor prospects in life: Orlando has no education despite being of good birth and Rosalind’s father has had his Dukedom usurped by his own brother. When they meet at a wrestling match where Orlando surprises the reigning champion, they fall instantly in love. Soon after, they are both forced to retreat to the Forest of Arden away from people who would do them harm. Rosalind, disguised as a man, tests Orlando on how to behave towards the object of his desire. After lots of shenanigans, the two are reunited and everything ends in happily ever after.

Director Sam Dinnage has given himself a tough task – in addition to directing, he also plays the romantic lead, Orlando. His Orlando is energetic, goofily suave, and self-concerned. Rosalind (Georgina Housby), traditionally regarded as one of Shakespeare’s brightest and most complex female characters, is very surprisingly smitten with him at first glance. Dinnage doesn’t seem to find importance in the stakes of the play and as such, the audience doesn’t have to care either. This turns the play into a carefree romp, with young actors playing every joke to the extreme. Dinnage’s directing style could easily be described as chaotic, and when mixed with the complexity of Shakespeare, a little confusing.

The entire company works hard throughout the production, using lots of physical comedy and making gags out of costumes and props malfunctioning. They clearly enjoy playing and working together. Their joy invites the audience to settle in and enjoy the comedy more. However, in a play with so many moving parts, multi-roling, and complex text, focusing on the comedy can detract from the audience’s understanding of the play. There are a few moments of brilliant clarity – “all the world’s a stage” was given a lovely frame of sincerity and allowed one of the very few silent moments of the show, and the moment of payoff when Silvius (adoringly played by Matt Rousseau) and Phoebe end up together elicited guffaws from even the most discerning audience members.

Due to a diagnosis of illness in the cast, Jacques was played by a stand-in, Charlotte McDaid, who deserves a commendation for a well-rounded and interesting Jacques, especially as a stand-in. Each actor had moments of excellence, but the stand-out aspect of this production is the frenetic chaos and collaborative enjoyment of the company.

As Shakespeare goes, there will be other productions, but Blue Duck Theatre Company may create more interesting productions in the future and will be a comedic ensemble on which to keep an eye.

Reviewed on 1 June 2024