Review: As You Like It at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

The current production of As You Like It at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier offers a good reason to venture out in the cold this winter.  The beautiful and intimate theater setting and the actors’ fine performances will soon have you forgetting about the weather outside as you settle in and enjoy the adventures found in Shakespeare’s popular comedy.

As with Shakespeare’s other comedies, mishaps and misunderstandings are resolved in the end, the main characters are paired off, and everyone, for the most part, is happy.  Of course, because this is Shakespeare, there are more layers to the story than that.

Director Gary Griffin explains that the play concerns identity and love, and so it does.  Shakespeare skillfully weaves comedy with deeper questions about self-identity and the power of love:  how do we become who we are, and how do we come to understand and appreciate love in all of its forms?

In many of Shakespeare’s plays, there is a dominant and a secondary female lead, and this play is no exception.  The significance of the secondary female lead is often determined by the skill of the actress portraying that role.  She can be a somewhat shadowy – and forgettable – character, or she can shine as brightly as the lead female.  In this particular production, one of the more memorable characters is the secondary female, Cecilia, played by Chaon Cross.  Her character is well-rounded – playful, amused, fiercely loyal, witty, charismatic, with a twinkle in her eye and comedic body language that greatly adds to the appeal of any scene in which she appears.

While most people have likely heard the expression “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” they may not be aware that it comes from this play and that it is but a small part of a larger contemplation on human life delivered by the character Jaques, who is portrayed by Ross Lehman in this production.  Lehman turns in a fine performance as Jaques, not only delivering this familiar musing in a funny yet touching manner, but also offering both comedic and poignant moments throughout the play.

There are many characters in this play, and several are worthy of mention:  Kate Fry as Rosalind, Matt Schwader as Orlando, Dennis Kelly as Adam, Phillip James Brannon as Touchstone, Matt DeCaro as Duke Frederick, Kevin Gudahl as Duke Senior, and Elizabeth Ledo as Phoebe all turn in memorable performances that you won’t soon forget upon leaving the theater.

Kevin Depinet’s set designs are a beautiful and significant visual complement to what’s taking place on stage.  Whether it’s the minimalist opening scene with its suggestion of an orchard or the more opulent forest setting, the scenery greatly adds to the appeal and interpretation of this production.

Mara Blumenfeld’s costumes are lovely and add a visually appealing dimension to the performances. 

All in all, As You Like It is great fun to watch.  If that is all you get from it, that will be enough, but, if you’re so inclined, you can also leave the theater with food for thought about some of life’s questions, which is one of the reasons Shakespeare and his plays remain so popular and relevant some 400 years later.