As You Like It

Published Thursday 10 April 2008 at 11:20 by John Thaxter

The Palace centenary celebrations continue with this pastoral comedy of love which reputedly opened the Globe in 1599 and in Brigid Larmour’s charmingly direct revival should open up the world of Shakespeare to lucky Watford playgoers.

Designed by Hannah Clark, the production is a highly theatrical affair set on a deep-thrust apron stage surrounded by footlights, several scenes played in front of the curtains music-hall style, while the Forest of Arden is a small single tree on to which snowflakes, Orlando’s verses or handfuls of spring petals flutter down from the flies.

Among the veterans, Nick Sampson doubles splendidly as the opposing Dukes, Paul Brightwell plays an amused but suitably melancholy Jacques, while Anil Desai’s companionable Touchstone, colourfully costumed as a circus barker, does not deserve the scorn heaped upon his head.

As a lover Paul Woodson’s Orlando is more genial than gobsmacked, his merry smile suggesting a future in comedy. But the discovery of the evening is Lisa Jackson, a Rosalind who combines dancerly grace and beauty with an astonishing ability to deliver her witty, well-spoken lines to the back of the stalls - a star performance.

William Kenning took over at short notice as Charles the Wrestler, sharing with Woodson a thrilling fight sequence choreographed by Kate Waters, combining spectacle with realistic hints of bruising danger. But the whole cast deliver attractive performances, including Claire Prempeh’s Phoebe, sweetly pursued by Neil Henry’s Silvius, Helen Baker as the pretty rustic Audrey and Kelly Williams as Celia.

Finally all praise to mezzo Esther Biddle doubling as Amiens and the goddess Hymen, whose melodious vocals were a high point of the evening’s entertainment.