As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s classic love stories. You know, the timeless story of Boy-Meets-Girl-Who-Pretends-To-Be-A-Boy-Pretending-To-Be-A-Girl. The story is convoluted, the characters’ motivations questionable, their actions deeply ludicrous.

Saskia Smith gives a bright and spirited performance as Rosalind, our cross-dressing heroine. Fleeing the wrath of her despotic Duchess aunt (Camilla Ah Kin), Rosalind finds herself exiled to the forest of Arden. Disguised as a youth, she takes up the life of a shepherd, accompanied by her jealously possessive cousin Celia (Lexi Freiman), and court fool Touchstone (a deliciously cheeky performance by Ed Wightman).

Things get complicated for the exiles when they encounter Rosalind’s exiled father the Duke (Julian Garner) and his entourage. Not to mention her almost-lover Orlando (Stephen Philips). Oh, and Orlando is being pursued by his brother Oliver (Jonathan Gavin), who loathes him because…because. Throw in a few randy shepherds/shepherdesses and you’ve got yourself a right farce.

Brimming with satire, song and improbable changes of heart, As You Like It is an energetic and whimsical delight. Yet for much of the first act things feel a little flat. I’m not sure if this is because of the sparseness of the set design. Performers sit in a row along the back, popping up whenever they are required to deliver a line, wrestle, or remind the audience to turn off their mobile phones before the action starts.

Towards the end of the first act, with a major musical number, the production seems suddenly invigorated and imbued with the sense of fun that the script demands. The major change of scene, with the Forest evoked by beautifully designed translucent hangings, also helps bring the play to life.

While the leads all do well in their roles, the supporting characters add sparkle. Ah-Kin, as both the nasty Duchess and Touchstone’s shepherdess love Audrey, is fantastic. Wightman’s Touchstone sparks with both Audrey and the melancholic Jaques (Damien Ryan), the Duke’s professional cynic. Philip Dodd invests the shepherd Corin with a laconic humour, and the troubled romance Silvius and Phoebe is comically played by Glenn Hazeldine and Anna Houston.

The production design by the late Jennie Tate is mixed in its effectiveness. The few props used in the Duchess’ court make the stage look positively barren, while the floaty, ethereal drapes and lighting used in the forest of Arden are beautifully evocative. Sometimes more is more. The gorgeous costumes are an eclectic mix of various eras, ranging from tea party to Ugg boot, which somehow blends together.

John Bell’s version of As You Like It isn’t without flaws, but it is an enjoyable romp.