Review: As You Like It ****
Sprite Productions shows just how strong it is in concept with this play.
The audience last year was asked to vote for the play they wanted in 2010 – they could choose anything they wanted – and this was the play what won it.
Which is surprising.
It is not the Bard's finest.
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Hide AdRosalind's pretending to be a boy, Orlando is in love with Rosalind and leaving notes on the trees around the woods for her.
There's, obviously, a fair bit more to the plot, but in a way it's irrelevant.
Sprite is able to produce consistently good theatre and in this setting it just works.
This year's director, Alex Hassell, explores the grounds of Ripley Castle a little more and finds that there are so very many places where a piece of Shakespeare can look beautiful.
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Hide AdA woodland hideout, complete with real fire, is particularly stunning.
The truth is that Sprite have found a perfect combination and, unless something goes very badly wrong, this will continue to be a highlight of Yorkshire's summer theatre.
To July 11.