Yippy Ki-aya for “As You Like It” in the Park

The first thing you need to know, is it gets cold, so bring something to keep you warm. The Public Theatre’s 50th year is off to a rousing start with Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Delacorte Theater. The free tickets make it all the more a cherished gift, that brings culture to everybody. I have seen several productions of “As You Like It” and this is by far the best. Fresh, touching, accessible, funny, cast well and directed with aplomb. You will be sighing with contentment. Daniel Sullivan ( Al Pacino’s “Merchant of Venice”) sets the piece in the 19th-century frontier. John Lee Beatty set, blends park into forest and fort. This is a playground for words to swirl in the night, in a new light.

The gifted actress Lily Rabe(Seminar and “Merchant”) weaves her magic, yet again as Rosalind, and brings the challenge to fruition. This is the only Shakesphere play where the female ends the show.The play begins as Orlando (David Furr) is forsaken and abused by his older brother, Oliver (Omar Metwally). Oliver states in his defense: “My soul — I know not why — hates nothing more than he.” Seeking to rid himself of his brother’s plots to end his life,  Orlando gets into a fight to win his financial freedom. Orlando is losing, until Rosalind and Celia (Renee Elise Goldsberry) offer support and he wins. When Duke Frederick (Andre Braugher, doubling as the good Duke Senior) finds out that Orlando is the son of his brother’s best friend, the Duke Senior banishes Orlando and then banishes Rosalind, Duke Senior’s daughter because of her goodness. Before banishment Rosalind and Orlando fall in love but cannot speak for the want of love. Celia, loving her cousin and hating her father’s decree, runs off with Rosalind to the forest along with the fool, Touchstone (the fabulous and touching Oliver Platt).

In the forest Rosalind disguised herself as a male and names herself Ganymede. Orlando, love struck and missing his encounter with Rosalind, pastes bad love notes to every tree. Rosalind mocks Orlando until she realizes she loves beyond words.

Meanwhile in the forest the banished Duke lives.  Touchstone is wooing the goatherd Audrey (Donna Lynne Champlin), the shepherd Silvius (Will Rogers) is beseeched with unrequited love for the shepherdess Phoebe (the weakest player here Susannah Flood) and Phoebe is fresh with love for Ganymede. In “As You Like It,” love happens with a look, as chemistry makes fools of us all. By the end, a contrite Oliver and Celia connect and marriage for all, except for the Duke Senior’s advisor Jaques, (a wonderful turn by Stephen Spinella), who thinks love is for fools and is left to wander alone.

The casting of Rabe and Furr has chemistry abounding and their bouts of verbal foreplay are equally matched as we root for these two to collapse in each other’s arms.

As all this is going on, a terrific bluegrass score played by skilled musicians dominates the mood. It is interesting to note that the composer is none other than actor Steve Martin. As we all long for summer romance,  “As You Like It” does it in spades.

As You Like It at the Delacorte Theater, Central Park, near 81st Street and Central Park West, Until June 30th.

Brendan Averett (Charles), Andre Braugher (Duke Senior/Duke Frederick), Donna Lynne Champlin (Audrey), Jon DeVries (Corin), MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Susannah Flood (Phoebe), David Furr (Orlando), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Andrew Hovelson (Oliver Martext), Robert Joy (Le Beau), Jesse Lenat (Amiens), Omar Metwally (Oliver), Oliver Platt (Touchstone), Lily Rabe (Rosalind), Will Rogers (Silvius), Stephen Spinella (Jaques) and Brendan Titley (William).