Autumn falls on the Forest of Arden in “As You Like It.”
The California Shakespeare Theater, once a jewel in the crown of the Bay Area theater scene, is now a lion in winter facing an existential financial crisis even as it marks its 50th anniversary of performing the Bard under the stars.
Cal Shakes is now making a comeback with “As You Like It,” the first full production the company has produced in years. Energetically directed by Elizabeth Carter, it’s an apt thematic choice as the shadows of life loom large in this sylvan comedy where the fickle hand of fate casts the feisty Rosalind (Sam Jackson) into exile with her BFF Celia (Sofia Ahmad) in tow, leaving the lovelorn Orlando (Wiley Naman Strasser) heartsick.
When the characters decamp into the woods, the change of seasons is beautifully captured by Nina Ball’s set, a huge black box that cracks open to reveal a gorgeous tableau, a sculptural forest of leaves turning color. Framed by the golden Orinda hillside, it’s a breathtaking view that invites contemplation.
While Carter’s production struggles to find its momentum, it’s nevertheless shot through with nuanced performances by estimable actors such as Stacy Ross as Jaques, Catherine Castellanos as Duke Senior/Duke Frederick and Leontyne Mbele-Mbong nimbly moving through multiple parts in this pastoral romp. Ross relishes in the iconic “Seven Ages of Man” speech. Mbele-Mbong leaps from character to character with small shifts in stature that convey great complexity.
Alas, not all of the ensemble is as dexterous with the verse and sometimes the language comes off as stilted. Gender is a very fluid affair in this staging and you can’t always tell if the casting is meant as a commentary. Here and there it’s hard to nail down just who is playing who. More clarity would tighten and brighten this comedy of identity.
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Sometimes the laughs also feel forced. Chris Steele’s schticky turn as Touchstone, the motley fool reimagined as a drag queen, is only sporadically funny and many of the musical interludes lack spark. The romances never quite ignite here either, which undercuts the push and pull of the play.
This romantic comedy may be pastoral but it should have sunbeams on the outside and shadows within, echoing the cycles of life and death. As the melancholy Jaques muses, all the world’s a stage, and all of us journey from infant to elder as we go.
Zendaya famously got her start at Cal Shakes, which began in Berkeley’s John Hinkel Park in the ‘70s. Jonathan Moscone transformed it into a gem in the 2000s before shaky artistic leadership, coupled with the pandemic, diminished its luster.
Now the company, like arts groups everywhere, is struggling to find its footing amid a post-pandemic world. Hopefully the troupe will emerge from its travails because it’s hard to imagine the Bay Area arts scene without this beloved cultural institution.
It should also be noted that while Cal Shakes still allows patrons to picnic on the picturesque grounds before the show (and this reviewer also encourages you to bring a blanket to ward off the chill) you may no longer tote along a bottle of wine with you. You are invited to buy a glass of vino at the concession stand, which will also help shore up the budget as the troupe journeys once more unto the breach. Cheers to that.
Contact Karen D’Souza at karenpdsouza@yahoo.com.
‘AS YOU LIKE IT’
By William Shakespeare, presented by California Shakespeare Theater
Through: Sept. 29
Where: Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda
Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, one intermission
Tickets: $25-$85; www.calshakes.org
