‘Shakespeare’s comedy may have been written final week’ – As You Like It assessment

Cross-dressing, persistent melancholia, regime change, a rebellious royal  – Shakespeare’s comedy may have been written final week.

Director Ellen McDougall’s vigorous manufacturing retains religion with the verities whereas transgendering in ways in which intrigue and amuse in equal measure.

Aided by Max Johns’ very good costume designs that convey a Lewis Carroll-like surrealism to Elizabethan puffs and ruffs, it is a brilliant and pleasing antidote to the fashionable gown productions that usually seem to be the results of post-war garments rationing.

A effective ensemble of male, feminine and non-binary actors ship the traces with readability and conviction, enjoying to the gallery and groundlings with confidence.

If some members would possibly do with a lesson in projection, the vast majority of the forged – notably Nina Bowers whose Canadian-inflected accent works properly in her vivacious interpretation of Rosalind, Macy-Jacob Seelochen as her royal bestie Celia, Stephanie Jacob very transferring as previous Adam and Alex Austin as a Cockney Jaques – convey a gleeful vitality to the Forest of Arden the place the sport of mismatched genders and romantic problems is performed out.

The further dialogue emphasises the queer manifesto overeggs the pudding as Shakespeare makes the purpose about gender fluidity greater than adequately.  

As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Globe till October 29, Tickets: 020 7401 9919