Review: As You Like It ****

Sprite Productions shows just how strong it is in concept with this play.

The audience last year was asked to vote for the play they wanted in 2010 – they could choose anything they wanted – and this was the play what won it.

Which is surprising.

It is not the Bard's finest.

Rosalind's pretending to be a boy, Orlando is in love with Rosalind and leaving notes on the trees around the woods for her.

There's, obviously, a fair bit more to the plot, but in a way it's irrelevant.

Sprite is able to produce consistently good theatre and in this setting it just works.

This year's director, Alex Hassell, explores the grounds of Ripley Castle a little more and finds that there are so very many places where a piece of Shakespeare can look beautiful.

A woodland hideout, complete with real fire, is particularly stunning.

The truth is that Sprite have found a perfect combination and, unless something goes very badly wrong, this will continue to be a highlight of Yorkshire's summer theatre.

To July 11.