If George Osborne were really serious about refilling the country's coffers, he could do worse than impose a tax on open-air theatre:?at this time of year, every lawn in England seemingly sprouts a Shakespeare play.
Most such shows rely on generic geniality, and Iris Theatre's 'As You Like It' is no exception. It is a forward defensive stroke of a production; ploughman's-lunch Shakespeare with flat caps, floaty shirts and blank verse at its blankest. That's a shame, because it starts intriguingly, with a Victorian toybox aesthetic that disappears by the time persecuted heroine Rosalind has fled to the Forest of Arden.
Emily Tucker and Fiona Geddes are spritely enough as Rosalind and her cousin Celia, while Joe Forte is a chiselled, Hovis-ad style love interest, Orlando. Mostly, though, this is toothless stuff.
Still, Tessa Battisti's sculptural designs of wilting wicker and looming flowers compliment the attractive blooms of the Actors' Church gardens and you could easily spend a harmless three hours in the company of Daniel Winder's production.