This season is shaping up to be the Summer of Shakespeare for yours truly. I’ve seen 3 Shakespeare productions in the past two weeks. All have been wildly enjoyable, especially for a theatre nerd like me. I just can get enough iambic pentameter!
The Mechanicals theatre company opened their production of As You Like It last night. It’s a perfect play to start your very own Summer of Shakespeare. Or just enjoy a night of groovy drag, love-triangles, and theatrical hi-jinks.
9 Reasons to See The Mechanicals’ “As You Like It”
1. This summer is the 50th anniversary of Woodstock and you need a groovy, creative way to celebrate.
This As You Like It takes place in the Summer of Love. Director Alexis Confer does a righteous job of realizing this world. There is a fab contrast between the two worlds of the play: of Jackie O-acceptable mod and the free-love hippies in the forest.
2. You’re ready to have stage crushes on all the talented, diverse cast members who make the Bard’s words come alive.
This is a stellar group of actors.
3. Original music inspired by 60’s icons like Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, and the The Lovin’ Spoonful is exactly what you want on your summer playlist.
Music by Tom Lee offers the perfect vibe. Some beautiful moments happen through song between Jacques and Amiens, who are a queer couple in this production, played by Ruthellen Cheney and Alessandra Migliaccio.
4. You’re still mad at yourself for missing Hair on Broadway.
Hair was one of my all-time favorite productions. Ushering the production in Central Park was one of my very first jobs in NYC so I saw it about 40 times before it transferred to Broadway. So trust me when I tell you this production of As You Like It has serious Hair vibes. In the best way.
5. You love the thought of flowers in your hair, but real ones make you sneeze
Cecilia Faraut’s colorful set creates a perfect play space for the play’s many different scenes. That this Forest of Arden is brought to life by an array of giant flowers couldn’t be more fitting for its flower children inhabitants.
6. You respect the recommendations from A-listers like, oh, Alec Baldwin.
Yes, THAT Alec Baldwin! He tweeted about the show!
7. Supporting indie theatre gives you a sense of pride, joy, and/or purpose.
Huzzah!
8. You’re a Shakespeare die-hard and you want to see AYLI scenes that many other performances cut.
Touchstone, played by Eric Ryan Swanson, lives up to his name here, savoring the language of his comedic commentary and a romantic sub-sub-plot throughout. Natalie Hoy as Rosalind, closes the show alone on stage with Shakespeare’s self-conscious epilogue.
9 It’s Pride Month! Of course you need some traditional, classic Shakespearean drag as part of your festivities!
No one had men playing women playing men like the Bard! With the inclusion of the epilogue, we end the play with this history forefront in our minds. The drag in this production is understated, blessedly not mined for comedy through cliched gender-sterotypes.
Check out this spirited show playing this weekend and next weekend through June 30th! More information and tickets can be found via The Mechanicals website: http://themechanicalsnyc.com
All photos in this post are courtesy of The Mechanicals.
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