Review: Stratford's LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Hits a Home Run!

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST opened at the Stratford Festival on Friday night...and it hit a home run with the audience! Director John Caird takes one of Shakespeare's earlier plays and makes it feel shiny and new. Assisting with this is an exceptional cast, captivating set design, and beautiful music. This said, what is truly on display is William Shakespeare's utter love of, and talent with, the English language. He makes words and sounds fun, and that is particularly true in this play.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST tells the story of King Ferdinand of Navarre (Sanjay Talwar) and three fellow students, Berowne (Mike Shara), Longaville (Andrew Robinson), and Dumaine (Thomas Olajide), as they promptly agree to not speak to or pursue a woman for their three years of study...and then just as promptly each fall in love. It is so wonderful to see Mr. Shara as a leading man on the Festival Theatre Stage. His Berowne is absolutely delightful. He is funny, but he is also very earnest. From the moment he appears on stage, and endears us with a toothy grin while he tries to weasel his way out of the 'no women' contract, he has the audience in the palm of his hand. Talwar, Robinson and Olajide are also delightful in their roles. The scene where each man secretly tries to write a love letter-each with its own...flare...is a real 'knee-slapping' kind of funny...but at the same time, the characters are so sweet, human, and well-meaning that we really do root for them.

There are many other excellent players in this fun and wordy production. As the objects of the men's affection, Ruby Joy (as the princess of France), Sarah Afful (as Rosaline), Ijeoma Emesowum (as Maria), and Tiffany Claire Martin (as Katherine), all have moments where they shine. Ms. Joy's delivery of the Princess' monologue in Act 4 is captivating. She has such presence on stage and gives the Princess a beautiful mix of strength and grace.

Some of my favourite moments came from Juan Chioran as the Quixote-type Spaniard, Don Adriano de Armado-particularly when he was sharing scenes with the absolutely fantastic, young Gabriel Long as Moth. I must brag that 2 seasons ago, I commented in my review of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE that Mr. Long was a standout and had a long future ahead of him in theatre. I felt clever when he stole our hearts as a fairy in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM a year later-but now I feel like a genius. Mr. Long is up for the challenge of what is an extremely demanding role for a young actor-but he does it all, and seemingly with ease.

I could honestly write a paragraph praising the talents of each and every cast member, but the other two I would be remise not to mention are Tom Rooney and Josue Laboucane. The always-engaging Rooney is fantastic as Holofernes the schoolteacher, and Laboucane is captivating as he steps into the Stratford Festival spotlight in the 'clown' type role of Costard the Swain. He also has the honour of speaking the longest word ever spoken in a Shakespearean play-which is also featured on a clever t-shirt in the gift shop. The word, by the way, is Honorificabilitudinitatibus.

Speaking of words...LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST features a great deal of enjoyable word play, rhyme, alliteration, etc.-and although one could say this about any Shakespearean work...this one takes it to a whole other level. I suppose learning one's lines is simply the foundation from which the actors build their roles upon...but kudos to them for getting through some of these tongue twisters day in and day out. Seriously. It is that impressive!

Something else that makes this play superb, is the live music (composed by Josh Schmidt) featured on stage and sometimes in the aisles. The visible 'surround sound' is a great effect and really immerses the audience into the scene in front of them. The set design by Patrick Clark is lovely---an outdoor setting in various shades of green. Green is, after all, according to the play, the "colour of lovers".

Overall, this production of LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST was a winner on every level. It is clever and funny, but it also earns its moments of sincerity and pathos. This is certainly one show audiences should not miss!

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST plays in repertory at the Festival Theatre until October 9th.

Photo Credit: David Hou