The Bridge Project Presents...

The act of collaboration is one that hearkens back to the earliest intrinsic memories of the theatre.  Shakespeare’s greatest works were catapulted from his pages to the stage with troupes of actors and artists eager to create something.  It is with this sensibility that The Old Vic teams up with the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street to bring the second season of the Bridge Project.  Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes takes on this year’s challenges with As You Like It and The Tempest, running now through March 13^th.

BAM’s Harvey Theater is a vision in and of itself.  The expansive and open rotunda has a charmingly aged feel, with the antique side boxes and peeling paint.  My heart skipped a beat when I first walked in — there was definitely an epic aura surrounding the impending production.  The stage stood mostly bare, with a few simple benches and pieces of accent.  As You Like It is often known for its transition from the opening scenes in the Kingdom to the adventures in the Forest of Arden that come later.  This production was dark from the beginning, leaving room for a much lighter and airy journey into Arden.

The incredible transatlantic cast brings life and fervor to the text, with Juliet Rylance being nothing less than standout as young Rosalind/Ganymede.  As the play took its course, I couldn’t help but compare her to a young, beautiful Julie Andrews in all of the best and most promising ways.  The entire cast grasped the humor and subtlety of Shakespeare’s better known romantic comedy, and a playful nature was palpable in both the serious and less-than-serious scenes.

Mendes proves himself a visual artist with his striking scene changes and delicately detailed moments which left beautiful images lingering in my mind long after the moment had past.  Live musicians in the side alcoves along with instrumentalists on stage created an aura that allowed audiences to truly immerse themselves in the world of these young, complicated lovers.

By the end of the play, the grass was growing high, paper lanterns were illuminating the trees, and all love had found its home and other half.  The audience seemed to release a collective sigh of admiration and longing for the beautiful world the company had created to last just a little bit longer.

As intimidating as classical theatre can seem to some audiences, when done well, Shakespeare is a treat for both eyes and ears.  The Bridge Project proves this wholeheartedly.  A full sensory experience is offered up with beauty, grace, grandeur and, most importantly, humble humor and honesty.

For more information on this and other Bridge Project productions, visit www.bam.org.