WMU goes Shakespearean

By Emilie E. Tole and Katie White
Western Herald

The play that coined the phrase “All the world’s a stage” will be performed at the Shaw Theater in the Gilmore Theater Complex from Feb. 18-26.

In 1910, Western Michigan University performed Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It” as a senior production piece.

Now, after a century’s hiatus, director Jim Daniels and cast, bring Shakespeare’s beloved work back to the WMU stage.

The play was first written in 1600, but was not published until 1623.

Many critics, such as George Bernard Shaw, adopt the theory that Shakespeare wrote the work as a simple crowd-pleaser.

This theory is based on the title “As You Like It,” with the “You” referring to the audience.

The play takes place in France during a time where Dukes and Duchesses ruled large territories of land (called a duchy) and could exile anyone who lived in their domain for whatever reason. Rosalind, the play’s heroine, resides with her duke uncle on his duchy.

Many of the characters in the play are exiled from this duchy; it is also the location from which Rosalind and her dear cousin Celia escape.

The girls escape to the Forest of Arden where Rosalind disguises herself as a man so they will not be attacked.

It is here, in the Forest of Arden, where the girls are met with the adventure of leading double lives and the excitement of falling in love.

However, they also experience the perplexing affects that their false identities have upon their relationships with the familiar faces they encounter in the forest.

“As You Like It” is a caper of confusion and misunderstanding that frolics with the themed quest for true love.

The role of the witty and intelligent Rosalind is being played by Jenna D’Angelo.
D’Angelo’s description of Rosalind is a bit complex.

“She’s a strong woman because she dresses up like a man, and yet she falls in love easily,” she said.

“So she’s still girly, but she wants to make sure that love is real.”

This is D’Angelo’s first experience performing Shakespeare in full-length.

“Learning this many Shakespearean lines was easier than I thought it was going to be, but it was still challenging,” D’Angelo said.

This role has been different than other roles D’Angelo has played in another obvious way other than the fact it is Shakespeare.

“I have never had to be a man before,” D’Angelo said.

“I found that I am not feminine enough to be a [more traditional] Rosalind and not manly enough to be a man [Rosalind’s guise]. It was difficult to find such clear definition of each.”

D’Angelo is accompanied on stage by a rather large cast, all of who had special coaching from directors on how to handle Shakespeare’s distinct, old-world style.

“As an American actor there is always a sort of fear of Shakespearian text being seen as or interpreted as proper or too profound. But the faculty here at the theater [department] helped us to understand that the text was written to reflect normal speech at the time,” said Joe Russell, who plays Oliver.

“So they help us to become grounded with it and comfortable. Once that is set, the rest is just a matter of committing to the character.”

“As You Like It” is one of Shakespeare’s less popular works and one of the most in-depth.

Each character is looking for something; love, marriage, loyalty, etc.

The characters also have eccentric personalities, which makes for on going conflict until the very end.

“I think there are plays that Shakespeare, well any play write, wrote for a reason. It just kind of happened,” said Louis Sallan, who plays Touchstone.

“It’s a conversation about men and women in my opinion.”

Seating for “As You Like It” is reserved. Tickets are $20, $15 for senior citizens and WMU employees, and $5 for students.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (269) 387-6222, online at www.wmutheatre.com, or by visiting the Gilmore Theatre Complex or Miller Auditorium ticket offices.

For additional ticket information and to reserve tickets, please call the theater box office at 269-387-6222 or go online to wmutheatre.com.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=14960

Posted by heraldstaff on Feb 18 2010. Filed under A & E, Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

http://HeraldStaff