By Sarah Tobol

In a scene from As You Like It, all but one of the lights at the BAM Harvey Theater are extinguished. The remaining spotlight hangs down to the center of the stage. Gentlemen in tuxedos and two women in gowns gather around two men as they prepare to fight. The light is pushed, begins swinging back and forth, as a rhythmic drum beat pounds off-stage on a timpani. They spar as their shadows dance behind them on the back wall. The scene is reminiscent of an illicit underground boxing match.

This is part of director Sam Mendes’ new production of Shakespeare’s well-known comedy. Mendes, supported by set designer Tom Piper and costume designer Catherine Zuber, presents a fresh look at a timeless classic. The costumes in particular, are decidedly non-Shakespearean, portraying instead an early twentieth century aesthetic.

As is common in the bard’s comedies, As You Like It features exile, gender-bending, disguise, mistaken identity and a fool. More than one person falls hopelessly in love, and everything is right in the end.

The ensemble cast provided for a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable show. Christian Camargo and Juliet Rylance as Orlando and Rosalind, respectively, had good chemistry. Rylance — perhaps in the most innately comedic role of the play — made the audience laugh at every opportunity, as she handled her role as a woman, playing a man, acting as a woman.

There were several standout performances in the supporting cast as well. Stephen Dillane as Jaques was excellent, slinking about the stage, offering tidbits of advice and banter, singing and playing the harmonica like Bob Dylan. He brought a fresh voice to Shakespeare’s famous “All the world’s a stage,� which can be difficult with such well-worn material.

Alvin Epstein, (who also played Adam) played Sir Oliver Martext, a vicar, as a bumbling little man, and was hysterical with thick round glasses that magnified his eyes, as he sidled up to country girl Audrey, played by Jenni Barber. Barber was good as well, making an interesting pair with Thomas Sadoski as Touchstone the court fool — she the messy, poorly dressed girl, he the well dressed clown from court. Somehow they fit perfectly.

Also in the cast were Edward Bennett as Oliver, Ron Cephas Jones as Charles, Michelle Beck as Celia, Michael Thomas as Duke Frederick and Duke Senior, Ross Waiton as Dennis and William, Jonathan Lincoln Fried as Le Beau, Richard Hansell as Amiens and Jacques de Boys, Anthony O’Donnell as Corin, Aaron Krohn as Silvius, and Ashlie Atkinson as Phoebe.

The talents of the cast were supported by those of the director. One of the interesting choices Mendes made along with Piper was the set design. He juxtaposed harsh angles and stark lighting of the court with the trees, grass and expanse of the Forest of Arden, which was accompanied by a soft soundtrack of birds and insects. He played with long shadows on the back of the stage, often using one low light on stage to achieve this effect.

This production of As You Like It is produced by BAM in conjunction with the Old Vic Theater in London and Neal Street. It is the second year of The Bridge Project, a three-year initiative intended to spur collaboration between British and American theater. The project was conceived by director Mendes, who is perhaps best knows for his Oscar-winning film American Beauty, actor Kevin Spacey and Joe Melillo, executive producer of BAM.

As You Like It will continue at BAM Harvey Theater through March 13. Mendes will also direct The Tempest as part of The Bridge Project, which will open on Feb. 14 and close on March 13. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.bam.org.

Questions? Comments? Sound off to the Editor

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2010 All materials posted on BrooklynEagle.com are protected by United States copyright law. Just a reminder, though -- It’s not considered polite to paste the entire story on your blog. Most blogs post a summary or the first paragraph,( 40 words) then post a link to the rest of the story. That helps increase click-throughs for everyone, and minimizes copyright issues. So please keep posting, but not the entire article. arturc at att.net