As You Like It, Shakespeare's Globe **

The Merchant of Venice brilliantly dealt with the issue of anti semitism within the play, depicting an anti Semitic world rather than being an anti semitic play. This is not true with As You Like It when dealing with the huge problem of sexism. I felt truly uncomfortable as Blanche McIntyres production milks every sexist joke dry with the audience not seeming to realise the content of the joke. At times, this production feels really nasty which is a shame. Not that I think this is a deliberate decision from McIntyre but I feel it is careless for no one to identify this. As well as this, the staging is at best uninspired and, whilst I don't expect lavish scenery, I would quite like to see some attempt to give this production an identity which is lost by a lack of set, meaning that it will just merge into another 'Globe show'. Performances also are quite bland and run of the mill. This means that when Michelle Terry enters, she lights the stage with her clever and funny interpretation of Rosalind. The other actor who is also the exception is James Garnon who is just a joy to watch in his debonair and mocking Jaques. Performances from Daniel Crossley and Gwyneth Keyworth are also rather good but the rest of the cast are rather dull to watch. I'm sure none of them are bad actors, however, they are outshone by Terry and Garnon who redeem an otherwise less than impressive production.