As You Like It

Shakespeare As You Like It play. Directed 2009 by Thea Sharrock at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London. Stars Brendan Hughes, Naomi Frederick, Laura Rogers, Dominic Rowan, Gregory Gudgeon, Sean Kearns, Philip Bird, Tim McMullan, Peter Gale, Jamie Parker, Jack Laskey, Trevor Martin, Michael Benz, Jade Williams, Sophie Duval, Ewart James Walters, Rob Millet, Ben Grove, Tracy Holloway, David Powell, and Dai Pritchard, with musicians Rob Miller, Ben Grove, Tracy Holloway, David Powell and Dai Pritchard. Designs by Dick Bird; music composed by Stephen Warbeck; choreography by Fin Walker; fights choreographed by Kevin McCurdy; musical direction by Rob Millet; film direction by Kriss Russman. Released 2010, this disc has 5.1 dts Master Audio Grade: A+

The acting, directing, and design of this production are all overwhelmingly impressive and delightful. The video and sound (there's music in this production) are both great. At the time this came out, it could have been the best video of a play ever made. Anyone who devotes time studying As You Like It will find seeing this production reward enough for making his investment in learning the play. And this HDVD should be a part of any course on Shakespeare taught in English at the  college level.

The only possible reservation about this title is that it has subtitles only in English. It would probably be futile to try to translate the firehose flow of characters and poetry in this work into other languages. But would it be technically and economically feasible to provide helpful adaptations or comments in other languages that would allow non-English speakers to enjoy the play? I guess Opus Arte thinks not, but I would urge them to reconsider this point as they bring out more Globe plays.

This title deserves the grade of "A+." It clears all the hurdles of excellence, and it will have broad appeal among English speakers. Even the L'OperaDou jury, which includes native French speakers, gave this title a "B+."