The Oxford Shakespeare Company (previously 'bold and saucy') opened their Oxford Summer Season in Wadham College Gardens with their own particular take on 'As You Like It'. The combination of lovers, cross dressing, mistaken identity and a King reclaiming his crown is typically Shakespearian and the company let the bard do their talking for them. Yes, it was set in pre-Revolutionary Russia; yes, some of the minor characters had been merged - but for all that, this was an honest and very funny production from an excellent company.

The emphasis is on comedy throughout, with most of the cast doubling, or in some cases, tripling their characters. Sometimes this can cause confusion, but such was the assuredness of Kevin Hosier's direction that this was never a problem - not even when you could see the costume changes happening! The only roles which didn't allow doubling were the hero, Orlando (George May), his lover Rosalind (Kirsty Yates) and her cousin Celia (Charlotte Windmill). These three were smart, sexy and sassy, the two women particularly relishing the roles, especially in Rosalind's transformation to the young shepherd boy (that was the cross-dressing I mentioned) to woo Orlando without his knowledge.

The entire cast deserves huge praise for their work. Philip Buck provided some good physical comedy as various yokels, David Chittenden provided a languid melancholic Jacques and an evil Oliver, Dafydd Gwyn Howells with an interesting take on the fool Touchstone as a foppish Hussar, and Deborah Mason striving to deal with two male roles, the courtier Le Beau and servant Adam, before coming into her own as a brilliantly flighty Audrey. Alongside these in a strong performance as four characters was Jonathan Coote, playing Dukes Frederick and Senior (a very effective device) the shepherd Corin, and a Rasputinesque priest.

There were too many flashes of comedy brilliance in this production to list them, the audience were kept laughing throughout but particular mention must be made of the herd of goats which appeared in the second half. The Oxford Shakespeare Company members did, I hope, have as good a time as their audience, and for me with this style of production they will always be 'bold and saucy' however you like it.

David Wootten, 07.07.03