For their latest Shakespearean outing – a production of As You Like It – the Studio Theatre Club have opted for a World War II setting. Visions of Dad's Army and Allo Allo abound as the court of Duke Frederick and the Forest of Arden are all relocated to occupied France. So true to its inspirations is the production that it's difficult not to see the words “You Have Been Watching…” as the cast take their final bows.
The choice of setting works particularly well, neatly dividing the characters into two easily distinguished camps: the Nazi-esque followers of the evil usurper Frederick, and the rag-tag band of British and French uniforms that make up the court of the exiled Stafford and the peasants who also live in the forest. The range of uniforms on display, from the RAF and Royal Navy to the Home Guard and the French Resistance, makes for a very visually appealing production.
Any production of As You Like It hinges on Rosalind, and the excellent Holly Bathie makes a flighty, playful lead, especially when she takes on the guise of dashing young RAF pilot 'Ganymede'. She is well supported by Elena Wright as the pragmatic and put-upon Celia, and Matt Kirk as the witty, larger-than-life entertainer Touchstone. There are also strong performances from Brian Mackenwells as the lovelorn Orlando, Jamie Crowther as melancholy air-raid patrol warden Jacques, Anna Griffiths as the delightfully simple goat-herd Audrey, and Mike MacDonald as Sergeant Corin of the Home Guard, and the quality of the supporting cast is generally good throughout.
Music plays an important part in the production, using recorded music to evoke the period (George Formby and Gracie Fields featuring heavily) coupled with some highly enjoyable live music, written and performed by Rory Morrison, to impart a more traditional rustic flavour to the forest scenes.
All in all, director Philip Shepherd has created a witty, fast-paced, charming and very funny production of this popular Shakespearean comedy, for which it is well worth making the trip to Abingdon.