SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
A CurtainUp Review
Under the Greenwood Tree
|
Wish I was forest born, part of nature's spinning wheels.— excerpt of song "Forest Born"
|
The show went through its early gestation period in a Brooklyn Warehouse before it leapfrogged across the East River and nestled into its present Soho venue (at the Flea). It's still more of a more of a theatrical experiment than a full production. However, the sweet hopeful songs and lifelike vignettes borrow much from the Bard's text and the broadly-etched narrative outlines most of the key events of the original. theatri.and lifelike vignettes borrow much from the Bard's text, and its broadly-etched narrative outlines most of the key events of the original. Yes, you might miss some of your favorite scenes: Rosalind's teasing of Orlando for defacing Arden's trees with his bad love poems gets downplayed here. And the Epilogue, that exquisite speech on theater magic, traditionally delivered by Rosalind at the stage's lip, is omitted. But you do get the tender meat of the play.
While the performers don't always convey the tough-mindedness essential for their characters, and the actors inhabiting the young lovers don't seem to confront all the emotional hardships that go hand-in-hand with love, the troupe managse to pull you into its lyrical orbit. No doubt its forte is in its score and lyrics, with songs like "Sermon of the Stones," "Oh, Winter Wind!" and "Forest Born" being its stronger melodic efforts.
Kudos to the multi-talented Carly Howard who plays Rosalind/ Ganymede with down-to-earth canniness and emotional candor. She looks like she'd be quite at home on an Ivy League campus (costumes by Christine Samar); her Ganymede, outfitted in overalls and hunting cap, is the model of a dislocated "survivor" and calls to mind Grant Wood's "American Gothic" portrait. No doubt Howard is a triple-threat here as thespian, musician (yes, she plays the ukulele and perc) and singer. Brett Benowitz as Orlando,becomes not only lover but roaming minstrel. Another performer to watch is Kendra Jo Brook as Celia, her pitch-perfect singing voice hits the mark every time.
There are a few miscast performers: The boyishly handsome Dan Wilson is hot-and-cold in the vital role of Jacques. He has Jacques' sour cynicism down pat but lacks the weathered look and jaded attitude of this world-weary philosopher and quintessential loner. That said, his Jacques manages to add a new twist to the seven-ages-of-man speech.
The other actor who looks too fresh-faced is Sean Griffin, playing Duke Frederick. Griffin needs to add a couple of decades to his age before he can be convincing as Rosalind's power-grabbing uncle. Griffin's unlined face and youthful physique make him look and sound too green in his villainous role.
The Arden Ensemble (Elle Tieszen, K. C. Leiber, Jennifer Oman, Kim Vogels)are top-notch in their musical wizardry and choreography (by Jennifer Oman). The best moments by far are when the troupe are kickin Though many theatergoers are enjoying the Bard in parks or parking lots this summer, you can catch this new Shakespearean musical without insect repellent or rain poncho in tow.
|
Under the Greenwood Tree Based on William Shakespeare's As You Like It and presented by Phillstock Entertainment LLC Co-directed by Carly Howard and Tyler Phillips Cast: Brett Benowitz (Orlando), Andy DeRado (Oliver), Josh Bown (Charles), John Gardner (Duke Senior), Kevy Bergman (Amiens), Arden Ensemble (Elle Tieszen, K.C. Leiber, Jennifer Oman, Kim Vogels). Sets: Young Jaung Costumes: Christine Samar Technical Direction: Dan Wilson and Garrison York Lighting: Jonathan Cottle, assisted by Ben Green Graphic Design: Carly Howard Stage Manager: Allison Wagner The Flea Theater at 41 White Street, Manhattan. Tickets: $15 online and $20 at the door. Purchase online at www.TheFlea.org. For more information, visit www.greenwoodtree.net. From 8/08/13; opening 8/11/13; closing 8/18/13. Tuesday through Saturday @ 7pm. Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Running time: 90 minutes Reviewed by Deirdre Donovan based on press performance of 8/08/13 REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. For a feed to reviews and features as they are posted add http://curtainupnewlinks.blogspot.com to your reader Curtainup at Facebook . . . Curtainup at Twitter Subscribe to our FREE email updates: E-mail: esommer@curtainup.comesommer@curtainup.com put SUBSCRIBE CURTAINUP EMAIL UPDATE in the subject line and your full name and email address in the body of the message. If you can spare a minute, tell us how you came to CurtainUp and from what part of the country. |
Book of Mormon -CD