Type – Shakespearean comedy in contemporary setting
If you liked – Clueless; 10 Things I Hate About You; Seinfeld; Instagram and Tiktok comedy
As You Like It: Come, woo me, woo me; for now I am in a holiday humour! This is an umitigated Shakespearean delight.
This production of As You Like It is a joyous and hilarious romp. The many absurd subplots in this Shakespearean comedy make sense due to the skilled treatment as a fast-paced screwball comedy, a wise and intelligent decision by Alex Kendall Robson, whose overall direction shows that we are in the hands of a young but extremely talented director. His vision for the play is perfectly unified and brought to life by disciplined and talented actors.
Written in about 1599, it goes to show that, never mind how language and culture may change over centuries, what makes us human stands the test of time. Greed, aggression and anger, however, are no match ultimately for the restorative and redemptive powers of love and laughter. With a multi-talented and multi-skilled cast of actors and musicians, obscure Elizabethan jokes and cultural references become comedy gold.
The trio of characters around which the play revolves, Jade Fuda as Rosalind, Pat Mandziy as Orlando, and Larissa Turtonas‘ Celia have formed an almost perfect chemistry and theatrical bond. Their acting abilities, comic timing, facial expressions and physical presentations are a joy to watch. They are acting and reacting the whole time – they never stand and wait for their next line. Indeed, the whole cast demonstrate this vital ability to bring a play to life – they are fully engaged in every moment of the performance, even down to the two ‘sheep’, magnificently played by Max Fernandez and Brea Macey in between their other roles.
This is the strongest and most consistently talented ensemble cast I have seen in a long while. Meg Bennetts’ Audrey and Zachary Aleksander’s Touchstone provide an utterly brilliant sideline in madcap comedy; Kendall Robson brings a highly relatable hipster characterisation to Jacques, making what is usually quite an annoying character a thoroughly modern and genuinely funny one. Jack Elliot Mitchell, Fernandez and Macey bring minor characters to life with exquisite comic timing and physicality. They also sing beautifully. Sonya Kerr doubles wonderfully as the two duchesses with commanding stage presence. Nicholas Starte demonstrates his acting chops with an excellent performance in two roles that are miles apart, the dopey shepherd and the menacing Oliver. He even makes Oliver’s redemptive transformation at the end of the play believable – no small feat.
Aleksander is also music director here, playing guitar and banjo, superbly supported by Hannah Buckley and James Robin. It’s so delicious to have live music on stage. With a great balance between the folksy Shakespearean numbers, interspersed with pop songs, this is another wonderful element of this fully realised production.
Is As You Like It Worth Seeing in Sydney?
This production is an unmitigated delight. The cast is fantastic, the comedy is joyful, the irony is gentle, and the music is gorgeous. We don’t often have the chance to see the good guys win and love conquering all. You haven’t got long, so I recommend a speedy journey to Marrickville to experience this troupe’s performance and share some of the freedom, happiness and love for a couple of hours.
Tickets and Practical Info for As You Like It in Sydney 🎟️
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Alex Kendall Robson
Flightpath Theatre, Marrickville
Until 14 March 2026
Tickets: https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/as-you-like-it
Cast: Jade Fuda, Pat Mandziy, Larissa Turton, Nicholas Starte, Sonya Kerr, Zachary Aleksander, Meg Bennetts, Alex Kendall Robson, Max Fernandez, Jack Elliot Mitchell, Brea Macey, Hannah Buckley and James Robin.
Creatives:
Director: Alex Kendall Robson
Assistant Director/Assoc. Prod: Jade Fuda
Music Director: Zachary Aleksander
Assistant Music Director: Hannah Buckley
Stage Manager: Gaby Whalland
Lighting Designer: Holly Nesbitt
Lighting Assistant: Gaby Whalland
Sound Designer: David Wilson
Costume Designer: Josh Carter and Lily Moody
Production Manager: Lily Moody
Fight Choreographer: Nicholas Starte
