(out of 
)In a season filled with William Shakespeare, Arizona Theatre Company is currently offering an amazing production of one of his comedies with their enchanting As You Like It. It's wonderful to be reminded how delightful, devious, and deliciously low the Bard can be. Sharon Ott, who helms this co-production with the Seattle Repertory Theatre, has made this evening one of the most easily understood Shakespeare productions to grace an Arizona stage. That's not to mention funniest, tightest and most inventive. Ms. Ott has joined with her talented cast and designers to make this venture into the forest of Arden nearly perfect.
This journey is caused when a usurping younger brother, Duke Frederick, exiles Duke Senior, and eventually his daughter, Rosalind. She flees to the forest disguised as a man with cousin Celia and fool Touchstone. There she encounters her love, Orlando, teaching him to woo her properly. It's one of the Bard's best comedies, and Rosalind is sweetheart to every Shakespeare scholar.
Ms. Ott is a playful director, as she manages to present low-brow comedy equally as well as inventive uses of settings and situations. Nowhere has a hammock been used to such impressive humor and plot movement. Her masterful pacing, mesmerizing stage pictures, and ability to find hilarity throughout makes this nearly three hour production fly all too quickly by. She draws great performances from her perfectly cast players, letting them skate the edges between arty and bawdy.
There is not an actor on the stage who doesn't get it. Lise Bruneau's irresistibly coquettish Rosalind, Laurence Ballard's well-modulated, melancholy Jaques, and Jeff Steitzer's rollickingly funny Touchstone are perfect examples of the depth and breadth of talent in the cast. Ms. Bruneau is amazing as she moves from giggling, love-struck teen to mock young man to wise woman. Her transformation is utterly believable, and everyone can see why Orlando would leave elegies on the trees praising her. The difficult role of mooning Jaques, one that actors often err on the side of melodramatic in performing, is given a balanced portrayal by Mr. Ballard. In his presentation, Jaques two most famous speeches are not stances, but dark observations completely in the moment. The plum role of the hilarious Touchstone is given a smirking read by Mr. Steitzer. The visual bits he offers, including a dumbshow explanation of an element of perfume, are the funniest to be seen. The remainder of the cast and ensemble is equal to these three, including William Mark Hulings' Orlando, Leslie Law's base Audrey, and local actors Kim Bennett and Ben Brittain.
The production is equally impressive in design. Kate Edmunds' stunning sets, Nancy Schertler's fluid lighting, and Paul Tazewell's sumptuous period costumes enhance the evening even further. Stephen LeGrand's sound design encountered a few opening night glitches, but carried well Loreena McKennitt's lush music.
In a season that's seen some great productions of the Bard and some horrific, this is a crowning achievement that must not be missed.
Production Details:
As You Like It by William
Shakespeare
Arizona Theatre Company
The Temple of Music & Art, Tucson
(520) 622-2823
March 3rd - 18th, 2000
The Herberger Theatre Center, Phoenix
(602) 256-6995
March 23rd - April 9th, 2000