As You Like It
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Patrick Siler
St. Louis Shakespeare
September 30, 2022
Oliver Bacus, Summer Baer
Photo by Dan Donovan
St. Louis Shakespeare
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s better-known comedies. It’s a witty examination of the pastoral life vs. more “sophisticated” court life, as well as a look at the lengths that some people will go to for love. St. Louis Shakespeare’s current production is a gently staged, fun rustic romp that highlights the relationships and features an especially strong leading pair.
The story is mostly set in the Forest of Arden, a rustic, wooded setting to which young Rosalind (Summer Baer)–daughter of the exiled Duke Senior (Shane Signorino)–flees along with her cousin and BFF Celia (Rhianna Anesa)–after Rosalind is also banished by her usurping uncle, Duke Frederick (also Signorino). So, accompanied by court clown Touchstone (Jacob Cange), the cousins flee in disguise, shortly after Rosalind has had a love-at-first-sight moment with Orlando (Oliver Bacus), who has also been banished from his home by his bitter elder brother, Oliver (John Waller). Orlando also ends up in Arden, where he decorates the local trees with love poems to Rosalind and eventually encounters her again, only this time she’s disguised as Ganymede, a young man, accompanied by Celia as Ganymede’s sister Aliena. While Rosalind tests Orlando’s affections with witty banter, she (as Ganymede) also gets involved in the romantic dealings of the locals–namely, Silvius (Joey File), a lovesick shepherd who is constantly spurned by the object of his affections, the haughty Phebe (Bethany Miscannon), who to Rosalind’s dismay, becomes enamored of Ganymede. Meanwhile, Touchstone becomes involved with a young country woman named Audrey (Kanisha Kellum), and Duke Senior is found wandering about the forest with a band of followers, including the moody Jaques (Colin Nichols), who offers his curmudgeonly commentary on everything he sees, but becomes amused and fascinated by Touchstone. All the plots eventually weave together in comically convenient ways, leading up to a big, festive conclusion.
As You Like it is a fun play that I’ve seen staged in various settings, from traditional to more modern. This production is more on the traditional side, with period costumes by Theo Dawson that suit the characters well, and a simple but evocative set by Cris Edwards that adapts well to the change between the court locale at the beginning to the more pastoral setting of the rest of the play. The mood is augmented by Patrick Huber’s lighting design and Jimmy Bernatowicz’s sound design. It’s a fairly laid-back, almost minimalist staging, but it works especially considering the gentle approach to the direction, in which the pacing is more deliberate and not quite as raucous (for the most part) as other productions of this play that I have seen.
The casting is strong, especially for the leads. Baer makes an amiable, enthusiastic Rosalind, and her scenes with the equally excellent Bacus as the earnest Orlando are crackling with chemistry. Baer also works especially well with Anesa, who makes for a likable Celia, and Cange, whose Touchstone is confident, engaging, and boldly comical. Cange has excellent chemistry with all of his castmates, especially Baer and Anesa, along with the hilarious Kellum as Audrey, and the glum Nicholas as Jaques. Other standouts include File in a delightfully physical turn as the lovesick Silvius, as well as Signorino in a commendable dual turn as both Dukes. It’s a strong ensemble, for the most part, with several of the actors playing more than one role, as courtiers, servants, foresters, shepherds, long-lost brothers, etc.
While the tone of this production can sometimes veer into the overly subdued, for the most part, this is a fun and entertaining production of a classic Shakespearean comedy. With an especially strong leading pair, along with a host of other memorable performances, this production is sure to induce much laughter. It’s an As You Like It that has a lot to like.
Summer Baer, Jacob Cange, Jim Read, Rhianna Anesa
Photo by Dan Donovan
St. Louis Shakespeare
St. Louis Shakespeare is presenting As You Like It at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood until October 2, 2022