Anyone see Sam Mendes' AS YOU LIKE IT at BAM?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:36pm

How is it?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:41pm

Doesn't it start tomorrow?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:45pm

Does it? Whoops...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:48pm

Going this weekend.

[mallardo]

Posted: 1/12/10 at 8:06am

I'll be interested to read the responses here. I saw both Winter's Tale and Cherry Orchard last year and didn't care for either of them. Mendes' direction was extremely hit and miss and some of his casting choices were inexplicable. I really think Mendes is a better film director than theatre director.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 1/12/10 at 9:34am

I'm going on Thursday, so I'll report back then.

[dave1606]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 1:02am

Saw it tonight via TDF....GREAT Seats...Row J front orchestra. But I am now convinced after sitting in the Gallery and the Orchestra that there are not comfortable seats in that theater. It was a LONG three hours not due to any fault of this excellent production, but due to the pain that seat caused me.

During the first half, I was concerned, Shakespeare to me can be either amazing (See this summer's Twelfth Night), or extremely dull(See this fall's Othello!) and during the first scene I was inclined to think it might be more a snoozefest, but honestly it completely blew me away. Mende's direction was very bold, and very visual. The set is fantastic even if you might not think so when the play starts, and Mende's make's great use of it.

Juliet Rylance is giving an incredible performance as Rosalind, and Christian Carmargo was great as Orlando (you'd never know he was was a serial killer in Dexter!) The rest of the cast was somewhat varied, but all were decent if some still didn't have their lines down.

But back to the direction. Mende's certainly made what I thought was one of the lighter of Shakespeare's works to be quite dark in the first half, but it only made the second that much lighter.

The music is fantastic here, much like Hem's fantastic work for Twelfth night, Mark Burnett has created a very clever and quite beautiful score with lots of really interesting instrument choices. The Lighting is extremely important as well, especially in the first half where much of the show is framed in squares of light, and for an interesting choice, see the fight club-esque fight scene early on in the play.

Honestly this blew me away, and I apologize if this is rather incoherent, but I just had to praise this show. I can honestly say that this play's staging will stay with me for quite some time,and I most certainly will not forget the end of Act 1 or the joyous end of the play either! Run to BAM...Broadway could learn a thing or two from them.

[jenW]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 8:53am

Replying to Todd Haimes (at top) about 'Stars':That's such a fatuous and stupid comment.The leads in Sam Mendes' As You Like It are people who know how to do Shakespeare. Just because you get your name into a movie or TV when you're young and get some kind of fan base absolutely does not mean you are up to doing this kind of difficulty. Look at Jude Law. nice looking. Hamlet? no. Rather watch paint dry. JenW.
Updated On: 1/15/10 at 08:53 AM

[The Other One]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 9:06am

Dave1606, please don't blame this fall's "Othello" on Shakespeare!

[neelsen]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 12:15pm

I saw the show yesterday and agree with Dave1606's review in every detail. It was an arrestingly visual production, that made very imaginative use of the space (and a stunning set), and I must make specific note of the amazing lighting and excellent sound design. The costumes were effective and nicely complemented many of the modern day references in the interpretation. The cast was good-to-very-good, but for me it was Sam Mendes's triumph, very ably supported by an excellent production team.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 5:18pm

Last year's The Winter's Tale and The Cherry Orchard were two of the best productions I've seen in a very long time, so I have incredibly high hopes for this and The Tempest. Camargo was a brilliant Hamlet, but I'm interested to see how he'll fit in a romantic lead like Orlando. It doesn't exactly seem ideal, but I'm hoping he'll surprise me. And Stephen Dillane was born to do Shakespeare...we are so lucky to have him over here, even for a short time.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 6:52pm

I was there this week too, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was very, very tired when I went and thought I was going to fall asleep before the production started, but I had no trouble staying awake and keeping engaged.

The star of the show (other than Mendes' direction) is the beautiful Juliet Rylance. Her Rosalind is so wonderful, especially in second half when she is playing Ganymede. She had great chemistry with Christian Carmargo as Orlando, and whenever they interacted I had a smile on my face.

Thomas Sadowski is delightful as Touchstone, and gets some nice laughs. Again, his scenes in the forest were particularly charming.

I absolutely loved the direction, sets, costumes, lighting, etc. The production is a feast for the senses, even though you wouldn't think so from the first scene.

I have to say I've been pretty impressed by everything I've seen at BAM. Even though I grumble a little bit about having to make the trek out to Brooklyn, it always seems to be worth the trip.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/17/10 at 11:32pm

It's a glorious production, despite the running time and being second act heavy.

Rylance is luminous and Dillane is other-worldly.

There is some miscasting ::Carmago, Beck:: but that doesn't entirely destroy anything. If anything, they've both got great chemistry with Rylance.

[frapperia]

Posted: 1/17/10 at 11:35pm

How was Ed Bennett's Oliver?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/18/10 at 9:25am

I would hope that Carmago would have chemistry with Rylance...

Is the 3:05 run time on the BAM website accurate? Regardless, I'm going tomorrow night and very much looking forward to seeing this.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/18/10 at 3:31pm

Last night's perf let out at 10:40, after starting at 7:35. Act 1 runs about 1:10, Act 2, 1:40ish.

Bennett was very good, I had forgotten I saw him in MIDSUMMER last year and that he was David Tennant's Hamlet understudy.

Mendes' staging is really what sticks out - there are some fascinating moments in there.

[Michelle616]

Posted: 1/18/10 at 4:04pm

I was at the second preview and absolutely loved it. I was definitely a little worried from the first scene, but it picks up nicely and Juliet Rylance is worth the price of admission alone...not to mention the gorgeous sets, costumes, music, etc.

[neelsen]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 9:30am

Frapperia, Ed Bennett was very good as Oliver. I felt his interpretation was shaded, and could believe that Oliver's actions arose from deep seated insecurity. He never descended into caricature and his actions never felt like mere plot device.

>> How was Ed Bennett's Oliver?