Check out the latest reviews of what’s on at the New Wolsey Theatre. This week our reviewers visited As You Like, and offer contrasting reviews which offer individual perspectives.

It’s always thrilling to go to The New Wolsey Theatre, and the performance this evening was ‘As You Like It’. I arrived with my friend in plenty of time, and found the jazzy coffee shop atmosphere helped us to get in the mood for a show; the coffee I ordered was elegant & well presented. Around us I could see some other people enjoying some delicious looking food.

A group of young women arrived later just before the performance began. I noted that there were fewer young men arriving - perhaps as love was the theme for tonight.

The production started with a short narration by Fisayo Akinade. Acting as a fugitive, his performance highlighted the plight of homelessness and the ephemeral life as suffered by migrants trying to enter the UK today. This was then followed by the rich Shakespeare dialogue that was presented with a modern-day feel.

The love story of Orlando and Rosalind was told with boldness and confidence by a mainly young cast, the derelict house acted as the scenery and it all worked really well. The props were great and the audience smiled and laughed as the cast delivered their lines.

Director Douglas Rintoul, his cast and crew, who come from far and wide, give the Shakespeare play a contemporary feel, their creativity was a joy to watch and from start to finish the audience was enthralled, and seemed to enjoy the evening just as we did.

‘All the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players, and one man in his time plays many parts’ and the multi-rolling cast did their parts extremely well. Michael Fox as Orlando was a hit. He is handsome and high spirited. Mark Jax, as the elder statesman of the cast, was something else for the elder ladies. All the fabulous cast really brought this age old play to life and spoke as if the text was written yesterday – sound and scenery definitely added to the great performance.

It just goes to show a European theatre company can ‘do’ Shakespeare as good as any English company can.

Wendie Alexander

Undergraduate at University Campus Suffolk

This evening as we arrive at the New Wolsey Theatre was our first cold and wet evening of the season. However, this was soon forgotten as I arrived with my friend to a warm welcome at the box office. We experienced a little mix up over which night we were suppose to attend, but the kindly gentleman soon rectified in a calming and friendly manner. The coffee lounge was small was moodily lit with pleasant background music. After receiving a diligently made latte, served with a smile, we found a seat. You do need to arrive in good time; otherwise it is standing room only. We sat for some time, enjoying our drinks, and watched as the lounge soon filled to capacity. The audience was buoyant and chatty, mostly mature in years, with a few younger faces amongst them.

The auditorium was filled by at least three quarters. Now seated comfortably six rows back, the lighting opened onto a contemporary stage set, the radiator was an immediate give-away. The play was cast in a modern day setting, depicting the plight of social and political immigration to this country and the transient, fretful lifestyle led by those seeking consistency and security. This theme runs parallel to the predicament of those who were exiled and banished into the Forest of Ardennes to hunt and survive while others lived a lavish courtly lifestyle.

This was my first experience of this production. Having read the play I was expecting a Shakespearian pastoral comedy of some kind, and the appearance of a young cast in contemporary dress made me feel as though I had come to the wrong production at first, and that this was not going to be the Shakespearian experience I was hoping for. How wrong I was.

As the famous lines were delivered with verve and accuracy I began to understand and moreover enjoy this modern interpretation. Every character was well played, even without period costume one could still recognise their traits. The developing romance between Orlando and Rosalind (Ganymede) was as heartfelt as it could have been, funny and faultless. Corin and Phoebe’s ‘romance’ was so genuinely played that one felt pity for Corin, I wanted to shout ‘forget her, she is not worthy of you.’ but I refrained.

And, of course, those famous lines, ‘All the world’s a stage’ and ‘too much of a good thing’ were both quoted as expected. My only disappointment was the lack of a lion … oh well, you can’t have everything. After all, I was not at the Panto. Saying that, I am looking forward to Dick Whittington and his cat next month.

This production was funny, touching and entrancing. The comradeship formed under the repression of vulnerable people and the understanding of adjustment has filtered well into this didactic production. I enjoyed the fresh approach. It has rekindled my love for Shakespeare, and I would like to see more.

Trudy Ellis

Undergraduate at University Campus Suffolk

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Natalie Chaplin