As You Like It is one of the gentlest and most whimsical of Shakespeare's works, a playful edifice built on oppositions.
The court versus the forest, autocratic older brothers excluding younger brothers; lovers vying in vain for their ladies and, inevitably, a fair maid cross-dressing as a fair youth.
An aged servant finances with his last savings the flight into the forest of his impetuous young master; that master braves a fight for the sake of his ancient retainer but instead of armed resistance meets open handed generosity.
A witty, carefree fool flings himself into lusty romance; a melancholy gentleman observes, philosophizes and abstains from the world.
This evening was a predictable success for music and a huge disappointment for theatre.
Debutantes and Vagabonds, active since 2007 according to the history posted on MySpace, got a nice shout-out in March on Austin.com for their piece "A Brilliant Revolution." Ryan E. Johnson called it "hands down the funniest piece I've seen at FronteraFest."
So I was expecting something special for this "collection of macabre theatre."
D&V secured the Rollins Theatre at the Long Center for a three-night run made possible in part by a rental subsidy. The slickly printed 16-page program featured 7 full-color pages and an impressive cluster of ads and sponsors. D&V persuaded some notable Austin musicians to provide the entr'acte entertainment music for their program of six short plays -- the White Ghost Shivers on Thursday, The Georgian Company on Friday, and Scott H. Biram on Saturday.
Logistics and promotion were curiously out of whack. I scan theatre listings and postings regularly, yet the first I heard of this production was an e-mail from the Shivers just 48 hours ahead of the opening. Click to read more on AustinLiveTheatre.com . . .
