BBC Radio Shakespeare: As You Like It (Dramatized)

My biggest complaint with BBC radio Shakespeare is their modernizing of the bard's songs and I'm not a big fan of their background music either. As You Like It though is tolerable enough in both of these areas, I personally would prefer something more authentic but it is good for what it is. The biggest draw to this production is Helena Bonham Carter who I thought was fabulous, who wouldn't fall in love with her Rosalind. More than any of the other BBC comedies this is one I eagerly look forward to listening to again and again.

As always (and I mean always) the BBC Radio Shakespeare knocks another performance right outta the park! I adore these performances, and As You Like It is one of my favorites. Helena Bonham Carter is a superstar, and the entire performance leaves nothing to be desired. If you haven't discovered this performance series, you should!!!

It is hard to imagine a better cast for As You Like It. Helena Bonham Carter captures every shade of Rosalind -- pragmatic, playful, honest, and thoroughly in love -- and the teasing friendship with Natasha Little's Celia is thoroughly believable. The rest of the cast are just as good, I've not heard or seen a performance more sympathetically read.

The one disappointment is that the songs are poorly sung to poor settings, and jar terribly against the beautiful acting.

This is a well-done production in terms of characterization of Rosalind and Orlando. I was disappointed however that it is not unabridged as is indicated on the Amazon website. This made it difficult for students to listen to as they followed along in their own copy of the play.