One of the boons of Oxford in summer is the plethora of outside entertainment, and Oxford Shakespeare Company’s current production of As You Like It in Wadham College Gardens is a first-class example.
This is the 12th year of OSC’s residence in these sublime surroundings and it shows in how imaginatively they use the space. For the initial courtly scenes the audience are instructed to place their picnic blankets facing the chapel end of the garden, where two ancient trees create a natural proscenium.
When the story moves to the Forest of Arden you are ushered to another area — where the banished Duke Fredrick and his followers have made their pastoral court. This promenading is great fun and makes you feel as if you are one of the Rosalind’s companions following her into idyllic exile.
Inspired touches such as this from director Michael Oakley create a magical production, which is enhanced by outstanding costumes from Adrian Lillie and virtuosic choreography by movement director Mark Smith.
A delightfully varied score by Nicholas Lloyd Webber allows the cast to bring alive the play’s songs with adept playing of various instruments and harmonious voices. They are equally melodious delivering the spoken lines, which isn’t easy playing outside (companies that don’t understand voice projection tend to just shout at the audience!). But OSC know their stuff and produce the words ‘trippingly on the tongue’.
Rebecca Tanwen, an enchanting Rosalind, is perfectly complemented by Charlotte Hamblin’s Celia. They are born comediennes and make a perfect double-act. This is not to imply the others lacked hilarity — Rob Whitcomb’s Touchstone is hilarious, and the pastoral shenanigans of Rosalind Steele, David Shelley and George Haynes as Phoebe, Corin and Audrey are broad comedy at its best.
But this As You Like It is no mere pantomime. Giving the play its essential chiaroscuro, Alexander McWilliam is a particularly lyrical Jacques, while David Shelley captures both the menace of the evil courtly Duke and joyfulness of the rightful ruler — his banished brother.
A wonderful way to pass a sunny evening, this is a must -see show for the summer.
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