As You Like It - The Musical

"As You Like It" is in many respects the sunniest of all Shakespeare's comedies, so it's not surprising that adapter-director-composer Tony Tanner chose to make it into a musical comedy. To make room for the songs and trim the running time down to an intermission-free 90 minutes, he has edited the text extensively, eliminating much of the punning, verbal quibbles, and wordplay beloved by the Elizabethans but often lost on modern audiences. Most of his cuts will not be missed, except by Shakespeare purists. But by imposing a broad musical comedy style, he sacrifices much of the poetry, subtlety, humanity, and lurking melancholy, and reduces the play to a simple romp, with interpolated modern references, much appreciated by the attentive audience.

Tanner's songs are fairly conventional, though some are clever. Orlando's sonnets are converted into a syncopated ensemble number. But it is disconcerting when a great set piece like Jacques' "Seven ages of man" speech is replaced by a musical turn.

Tanner is fortunate in his Rosalind. Jessica Pennington brings deft vocal skills, down-to-earth wit, and enormous charm to the role, as well as an emotional commitment strong enough to justify the broadness of the staging. Paul D. Masterson is a stalwart, well-spoken Orlando, and Rachele Gueli is a lively and attractive Celia. John Copeland is more good-humored than melancholy as Jacques, and Matthew Henerson's Touchstone is a bumptious rogue, without the subversive streak other actors have found in him. Steve Peterson doubles as the good Duke Senior and his evil usurping brother, and lends an unexpected goofy charm to the good Duke's unflagging optimism. Henry Selvitelle gives a faithful rendition of the loyal old servant Adam and turns up again as the dimwitted Sir Oliver Martext.

Music director David E. Kole keeps the musical numbers crisp and provides solid keyboard accompaniment. Daniel Mahler supplies the handsome, vaguely contemporary costumes. Ultimately this is an enjoyable production, briskly paced and energetic, but it's also a lightweight one-not inappropriate, perhaps, for an outdoor production on a balmy summer evening.

Presented by the City of West Hollywood and Classical Theatre Lab at the Great Hall Courtyard in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. July 9–31. Sat.–Sun., 6 p.m. Also at Kings Road Park, 1000 N. Kings Rd., West Hollywood. Sat. Aug. 6, 4 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 7, 11:30 a.m.; Sat., Aug. 13, 4 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 14, 4 p.m. (323) 960-5691.