As You Like It

As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies, and with its predominantly forested setting, is the perfect play to stage amongst the trees at Jackson Park. The play features villainous schemes, runaway princesses, an over-the-top wrestling match, catchy music, clever disguises, confounding love triangles, lost-and-found family... and the ever-famous “All the world’s a stage” speech.

The story follows disinherited nobleman Orlando and out-of-favor princess Rosalind, whose barely-kindled romance is cut short when each of them are forced to flee from danger at home. Unbeknownst to one another, they both end up running away to the Forest of Arden, where they encounter a Merry Men-like band of exiled nobles, a coterie of country shepherds, and eventually, one another. Rosalind’s disguise as a young man has offered her more freedom, but matters are complicated by her inability to reveal herself to the doting Orlando, and the unlucky side-effect of attracting the affections of the young Shepherdess Phebe, to the dismay of the Phebe-smitten Silvius. Fortunately, she has the (sometimes-grudging) support of her cousin Celia and the court jester Touchstone.

Director Sullivan Mackintosh says “this family-friendly production is pure joy -- full of silliness and heart. Shakespeare’s language can be a challenge, but I prefer to think of it as a puzzle; there are fun clues all over the place that help us bring the story to life.”

The cast includes several faces familiar to Gorge theatre-goers, but also many newcomers to the stage. The actors are supported by a robust backstage crew, including Zora Richardson, a rising senior at The Dalles High School, who is creating many of the costumes for the show.

The show’s costumes are loosely inspired by the styles worn in Shakespeare’s time, but w plenty of modern elements as well -- the focus is on colorful, high energy representation of the characters and their relationships to one another.

Also enhancing the show is the creative work of producers Lynda Dallman and Gary Young, ad sales Matt Rankin, musician Bill Weiler, technical director Joe Garoutte, scenic artist Irene Fields, construction managers Peter Dallman and Curtis Reel and stage managers Adrian Chaton and Kathy Williams.

CAST

Orlando - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - William Thayer-Dougherty

Adam, Corin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Dye

Oliver - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kenji Stasiewicz

Charles, Jaques - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Charlie Buss

Rosalind - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Savannah Rogan

Celia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Emily Walker

Touchstone - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kathleen Morrow

Le Beu, Forest Lord, Audrey - - - - - Rosemary Shepardson

Duke Frederick, Duke Senior - - - - -Kendra Behn-Smith

City Lord, Forest Lord, Phebe - - - - Ahmira Elyard-Jaeger

City Lord, Silvius - - - - - - - - - - - - - Theo Levine

Amyens, Martext, William, Brother AveryDeane Swift

Page - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Syl Perrin