To rescue Kahlo from the clutches of the corporate art market, we need to acknowledge the overt and covert political dimensions of the work, demands GAVIN O’TOOLE
As You Like It
Regents Park Open Air Theatre, London
THE SHAME of this wonderful show is that it’s only scheduled until July 28. Joyful, playful and delightfully funny in all the right places, it deserves far greater exposure than just a three-week run.
There are fabulous performances everywhere you look, with a new-age, dreadlocked Maureen Beattie taking full advantage of her role as the wise, curmudgeonly Jaques and Danny Kirrane and Amy Booth-Steel playing the overwrought lovers Touchstone and Audrey to great comic effect.
Edward Hogg is excellent as an irretrievably lovelorn, idealistic Orlando and Me’sha Bryan is an alluring, sweet-voiced focal point for the musical interludes, well directed and arranged by Phil Bateman.
RUTH AYLETT reviews two collections of outright political poetry
New releases from Allo Darlin’, Loyle Carner and Mike Polizze
MAYER WAKEFIELD relishes a witty and uplifting rallying cry for unity, which highlights the erasure of queer women
MARY CONWAY is blown away by a flawless production of Lynn Nottage’s exquisite tragedy


