"As You Like It" at the RSC Courtyard Theatre

Told you I was going to do it! I want to devote an entire post towards this play because I enjoyed it THAT MUCH. Where to begin...Well to start with, this was not an entirely traditional production of the play. We started in a very gothic Elizabethan court. Everything was black and white. The lights were harsh and created really long shadows on the stage. All of the actors had makeup that made their faces white at the beginning. The set was just a blank white stage with one towering white blank wall. It was very minimal, but very effective for what they were trying to convey.

As the play continued the back wall of the set had little doors that began to open up and reveal the forest of Arden. The palette of colors also changed to more natural hues that were in high contrast to the stark blackness of the court.

The thing that really caught my eye in this play was the costumes. The play began in the court with just black and white costumes that were very tailored.

As the plot unravelled the costumes became more and more modern. I really want Rosalind and Celia's dresses that they wore in the final scene.

But I found it interesting that anytime there was a flashback to someone from the court, they were still in the black tight garb of the court. From what I could tell the costumes mirrored the journey of the characters. As they moved through the forests they were freed to become their true selves and change from the strict costuming in color and form of the court. Also it showed the audience how Shakespeare's play, specifically this one, is applicable to all ages. One cool metaphor in the costumes was that Touchstone, the fool, was wearing a straight jacket.

As the play progressed, the straight jacket began to loosen and he began to lose pieces of the straight jacket. It showed how much the forest of Arden let the characters relax and become themselves where they could not in the strict atmosphere of the court.

One thing that really caught my attention was the use of lighting in the RSC play. It started as a real harsh overhead light that isolated the stage and created really long shadows on the actors and emphasizing the light and dark contrasts of their clothes, faces, and set. As the play continued the lights moved downward and softened so that the audience was more illuminated and the mood softened as well. It was more fitting for a forest.

I like Rosalind at the RSC better than the one at the Globe. She was a more mature actress and her character really developed throughout the play. We saw a different Rosalind at the end than at the beginning after her time in the forest.

Also I enjoyed marking the differences between this play's Celia and the Celia at the Globe. At the RSC, Celia seemed more realistic to me. She had many scenes where she just sits behind the action and watches as Rosalind flirts and falls in love with Orlando. At the Globe, Celia was lighthearted and making faces behind their backs; at the RSC, Celia became more and more upset that her best friend Rosalind was drawing away from her and towards Orlando. Both worked in each production, but I liked the RSC's Celia much better.

My favorite part of the play was that I was sitting on the FRONT ROW! I've never been so close to a stage before! It was the most amazing theatre experience that I've ever had. You can see everything in such minute detail. Also, fun things happen on the front row. At one point the fool, Touchstone, ripped his vest off and threw it across the stage which then slid across the stage and into my lap! At first me and the girl next to me were just like uhhhhhh what do we do?! So we just gingerly set it back on the edge of the stage. When Touchstone came back to get it he said "Thank YOU" in a very sarcastic way. It was awesome.

Also at the end there's this awesome like dance thing going on when the god Hymen comes down and marries all four couples, which involved ribbons that tied the wrists of the couples together. Also this scene began with Hymen singing on a squeaking mic like karaoke at a wedding reception. So after dancing for a while the various characters came out to the audience with ribbons. They tied a girl and guy next to me together, and then the character of Celia came over to my area and held out a ribbon. So at about the same time me and the girl next to me from our group hold out our arms. So now I'm married to Alison, I guess. Oops?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this production of "As You Like It". I won't bore you with anymore details, but can I just say that if you are ever presented with the opportunity to see ANYTHING done by the Royal Shakespeare Company, you are a fool if you don't go!