For the second year in a row Sport for Jove productions, this time in association with the National Trust, are presenting the Leura Shakespeare Festival.

Once again, the intention is to perform Shakespeare outdoors in Leura’s beautiful Everglades Gardens. When wet weather intervenes, as unfortunately it often does in the Blue Mountains, the Company is presenting its work within the intimate theatre at Leura’s Fairmont Resort, the season’s official accommodation partner.

I caught Sport for Jove’s production of ‘As You Like It’, predictably enough with the recent inclement weather, at the Fairmont.
This was an impressive production played out in an audience pleasing spirit that the Bard would have loved; exuberant and freewheeling. Shakespeare was a lover of words and philosophy, of playing and players, and this comes through strongly in Damien Ryan’s production.

Clearly Ryan’s players would have preferred the open space of the Everglades however with some tweaking to work within the indoors venue, they put on a great three hour show. My favourite scene was when the audience was directed away from its seats to another room where a makeshift boxing ring was set up and the play’s big boxing scene was played out with plenty of atmosphere.

My pick of the performances were Lizzie Schebesta in the lynchpin role of Rosalind, Christopher Stalley in a strongly focused performance as Orlando, Barry French as Adam, Eloise Winestock as Celia, Troy Carlson as a charismatic Touchstone, and Christopher Tomkinson as a forceful Charles the Wrestler.

A fine band of musicians; Dorn Mercer, Pip Dracakis, Jessica Clay, Sally Andrews, and Drew and Naomi Livingstone provided great musical accompaniment through the show with the Livingstones composing their own score to match the Bard’s lyrics.

This ‘As You Like It’ went off like a dream. Along with ‘As You Like It’, Ryan’s players are also performing, in tandem, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ through the season, playing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until January 29, 2011. The three final performances are to feature ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and are to be performed at the world renowned Norman Lindsay Gallery in Springwood. Please check the company’s website www.sportforjove.com.au for further details.