Image: ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk; Photo by Johan Persson.
With NT Live, ​Britain’s National Theatre offers up one of Shakespeare’s best-loved romantic comedies during the year that marks the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death. Polly Findlay’s production of As You Like It was filmed live at the theatre on London’s South Bank and will screen in cinemas around the country.
Findlay has set her version in modern day, instead of a court we have an open plan office space full of candy coloured suits and carpets. The only natural elements on set are tiny spot lit bonsai trees on each desk, symbolising the artifice of civilised society, one of the major themes running through Shakespeare’s pastoral play.
Orlando, played by Joe Bannister is the office cleaner, while his conniving brother Oliver played by Philip Arditi is the CEO. Bannister captures the youth’s love-struck befuddlement upon first seeing Rosalind with great comic timing. Princesses Rosalind and Celia played by Rosalie Craig and Patsy Ferran bounce off each other with effervescent repartee. When the cousins conspire to disguise themselves (Rosalind as a man) and flee into the wild their powerful bond of friendship is apparent.
In the Forest of Arden the chaotic plot thickens the set change here is a marvel. The office is mechanically dragged upwards until it hangs vertiginously above the stage. The monolithic wreckage of the corporate world as it transforms to a wild space is stunningly executed. Lizzie Clachan’s design provides a complex and multi-faceted canvas, within which a vast ensemble nestles and provides the sound effects of the woods. Music and lighting design help to situate the audience within the four seasons of the play. Melancholic a cappella renditions of the many songs throughout the play along with birdsong, whispers and howls bring the forest to life. The darkness of the forest is offset by constant injections of humour, for instance the whole cast transforming into a flock of sheep wearing woollen jumpers as the old shepherd and Touchstone converse.
In As You Like It, the mad-cap plot and fast pace lends itself well to the cinematic medium. There are also short documentaries in at the beginning and after intermission that add context and give behind the scenes access. Although the experience of sitting in a cinema is so different to watching live theatre the NT Live series is a chance for a wider audience to access these productions. Shooting from various angles and positions allows us to absorb some of the action from a more privileged vantage point than the fixed position of the theatregoer. From close-up the actors and their performances can be viewed in a more nuanced way.
During Jaques famous ‘All the word’s a stage’ speech the camera tracks the actor (Paul Chahidi) as he treads the boards and scornfully muses on the human condition. A burlesque explosion of song, dance and colour celebrates the play’s many versions of love, from the pure and idealised to the earthy and convenient.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
As You Like It
Running time: 4hrs
National Theatre Live
​Screening in selected cinemas from 19-27 March
