“As You Like It,” a joyful celebration of life and love, will be presented Wednesday to Saturday, Nov. 13 to 16, by the Keene State College Department of Theatre and Dance.
The play is directed by Keene State Theatre Assistant Professor Jeannie-Marie Brown, who noted that an uplifting exploration of love would be timely in today’s climate. The play was first performed at the Globe Theatre in the tumultuous year of 1599 by Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlin’s Men. The play departed from the customary drama of the period in England, and reportedly provided a jolt of realism rarely seen by Elizabethan audiences. The Keene State production of “As You Like It” focuses on creating an experience culturally relevant to our time by creating a lively and fun space to ponder the questions raised by Shakespeare in 1599.
Shakespeare used the play to provide social commentary, Brown said, in a way that escaped censorship and entertained audiences. “I found parallels between our present world, the period in which the play was written, and the early 1970s. Theater audiences today are very different from the rowdy attendees in 1599.”
Audience members are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite 1974-inspired outfits, and those who arrive early can create a poem or a drawing to reflect their thoughts on love. The cast will incorporate these reflections into the world of the play.
“For this production of ‘As You Like It,’ we are exploring the idea of spectacle, theatricality, and what it really means if “All the world’s a stage”,” said Brown.
The production includes six songs by Christopher Chappell, which are sung by cast members and feature alumna Katrina Feraco of the class of 2017. Theatre Professor Celine Perron designed the set, guest artist Stephen Petrilli designed the lighting and guest artist Joseph Blaha designed the costumes.
The actors are students Laughlin Hentz, Talon Petrosino, Jaden Rogers, Patrick Mullen, Mariah Palmer, Cassidy Doherty, Camden Bubblo, Samuel Kingsberry; Alex Lamoureux; Ashley Jones, Alexis Bowley, Max MacLeod, Justine Ann Sanchez, Sean Gregoire, Darius Sanchez, Patrick Eckland, Grace Kennett, and Erika Walker.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening in the Main Theatre of the Redfern Arts Center on the KSC campus. On Friday, Nov. 15, an early morning performance starts at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and youth, and $6 for Keene State students. For tickets, call the Redfern Box Office at (603) 358-2168, or order online at keene.edu/arts/redfern.
For more about Keene State’s Theatre and Dance, visit academics.keene.edu/tad or call (603) 358-2162.