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April 05, 2005
Psychedelic costumes put a ’60s spin on Shakespeare: Guthrie presents modern version of As You Like It
The staff at the Guthrie are truly in touch with their inner hippies. If there were any prior doubts, their newest production, a rendition of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, casts all reservations aside.
Costume designer Helen Q. Huang, working in her first Guthrie production, takes responsibility for the play’s retro feel. Huang’s design creates a kaleidoscope of colored costumes, displaying the vast freedom of those wearing them.
Certainly her crowning achievement is the garb of the clown Touchstone, played brilliantly by Jim Lichtscheidl.
Throughout the play, Touchstone is adorned first in a purple suit with green pinstripes, which later evolves into colorful patchwork pants, a silk scarf, a vest and leather jacket, all topped with the straight wide-brim hat from his original purple suit.
Touchstone is a constant entertainer, a mix of Austin Powers’ sex drive, the knowledge of John Lennon, and the gait and stage presence of Robert Plant. He is a truly enjoyable character.
Lichtscheidl’s performance is second only to Bianca Amato’s Rosalind.
The play opens as Orlando, the youngest son of Sir Roland de Boys, passionately played by Drew
Cortese, triumphs in a wrestling match against a lackey of his enemy, Duke Fredrick.
Enter Rosalind, the niece of Fredrick and cousin of Celia, Fredrick’s daughter. In true Shakespearean fashion, Rosalind and Orlando fall instantly in love, against Fredrick’s wishes.
Again the costumes are noticeable, with Fredrick and his servants are dressed in dark formal suits. In contrast, those who oppose Fredrick don loose, colorful garments.
Orlando then leaves for the Arden Forest, as Fredrick wants him dead. Wishing to chase her love,
Rosalind and Celia also begin their trek to Arden, despite the chill of winter.
They disguise themselves, fearing violence along the path. Rosalind dresses as a man, which, predictably, leads to various complications.
In the forest lives Duke Senior, Rosalind’s father. Senior was once was in power; however, his throne was usurped by Fredrick. Thus he lives in exile in Arden.
In the forest, colors come alive, as the second half opens in spring with multicolored leaves and Huang’s costumes.
Amato handles cross-dressing beautifully, successfully conveying the irony of Phoebe, a shepherdess, who falls in love for “Ganymede,” Rosalind’s alias. Rosalind finds Orlando and begins to test his love by trying to break him of it.
The play ends in a colorful party, with four marriages taking place while Hymen, the god of marriage, appears out of the floor, donning an afro and a rainbow yellow dress, mimicking Diana Ross in her singing style.
Despite others singing throughout the play, Hymen’s aria turns the stage in a dance hall, lacking only a disco ball.
Overall, the Guthrie takes this festive atmosphere on throughout the production. By mixing drama with colorful and ridiculous visuals, Shakespeare’s play becomes a beast of its own, a work definitely worth seeing.
As You Like It runs through April 17. For more information on show times and ticket prices, including cheap student rush prices, visit www.guthrietheater.org.
Posted by msveum at April 5, 2005 09:22 PM
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