Shakespeare in the Park: “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Delacorte is Shakespeare as you love it: frothy, funny and refreshing as a frozen rose in summer.

The score of the 2022 production is by Shaina Taub, who composed and starred in three plays for the Public Theatre’s Public Works program, while the book is a collaboration between Taub and Laurie Woolery. The musical numbers are lively, lovely and snarky, while the stage itself is often a pageantry of over 80 actors and singers of all ages and colors. Boring it is not.

Mad props to Rebecca Naomi Jones as Rosalind; as some theatergoers may remember, she was the first woman of color to play Laurie, in the 2018 production of “Oklahoma” at St. Ann’s Warehouse. Her voice and comedic talent are beyond compare in AYLI. Ato Blankson-Wood (from “Slave Play”) is perfect and perfectly silly as her sexy swain Orlando. He brings a Marvin Gaye crooner vibe to his numbers, and is supported by backup singers that seems to have been plucked straight outta “Ain’t Too Proud.”

Heartfelt thanks as well to the long list of community organizations that make up Public Works, whose mission is to “connect people through the creation of extraordinary works of art.” These organizations include Brownsville Recreation Center, the Fortune Society, Children’s Aid, Domestic Workers United, even the Bronx Wrestling Federation, which provided a WWE-like interlude.

In addition to the Rosalind-Orlando romance, there was also gay love and lesbian love represented on the Delacorte stage —as the program notes stated, “love in all its forms, forgiveness and the bravery it takes to reveal our true selves with all our imperfections.”  With that, I will stop the shilling and urge you to get in line—or online— for tickets. And do have a frozen rose before the show—it’s the icing on this delicious birthday cake of a show.