Movie Maven

Just saw a delightful version of "As You Like It" last weekend. It was the play chosen this summer for free Shakespeare on the Common, which was recently saved from certain doom by popular demand, after sponsor Citibank had considered making drastic cuts to the play's run. A tragic move it would have been on their part, as this was some of the best Shakespeare I've ever seen, free or otherwise, and a true jewel of the Boston arts and culture scene.

The Boston Globe review of "As You Like It" is here, and for the most part I concur with all statements therein. It was a sprightly show, with a balletic Larry Coen as Touchstone the clown, an excellent recitation of the "All the world's a stage" speech by Fred Sullivan, Jr. as Jacques, and Marin Ireland as Rosalind, who managed to be adorable without making me want to hurl into my pic-a-nic basket.

But the true delightful surprise was in the young Buck who played Orlando, a gentleman named Frederick Weller. I kept thinking as I watched him that he looked terribly familiar. Then I realized he reminded me of Mary McCormack's partner Marshall in the new USA show "In Plain Sight." The same gangly, yet muscular features, the same languid voice. It was uncanny.

Well, actually, it wasn't uncanny. It was the same guy.

If you haven't seen "In Plain Sight" you should give it a shot. The dialogue's not terrific, but both McCormack and Weller more than make up for it with tight, intelligent performances (they ain't so bad to look at either). It's also nice to see a show where the female protagonist isn't constantly talking about shoes.

And, if you're in the Boston area this weekend, definitely make a trip to Boston Common to see Weller, et. al. cavort in one of the Bard's most playful plays.