Coronado Playhouse Coronado Playhouse’s latest production, under the able direction of Keith A. Anderson, is As You Like It. My program flopped open to a dense page entitled, "Why A Modern Language Text Of Shakespeare?" I was aghast that another director with some crazy idea that he could possibly be better at prose than The Bard, the very man who added over 1700 words to the English language. NEVER! Director Keith A. Anderson garnered nary a moment of wrath from me as he gently changed but a few words. It was either that or a glossary defining some obscure word’s meaning.
The woods, actually the Forest of Arden, an orchard on the estate of Sir Rowland, and outside the Duke Frederick’s palace. These locations were designed and painted by Rosemary King. The two-tiered set offered a great variety. As the lights went down on one area, they came up on another, a credit to Dale Goodman’s lighting design. To further enhance the mood was the music arranged by Ray Simard. Costume Designers Jane Russell and Mary Anderson provided a colorful array of costumes. Sound Design Steve Murdock provided a good sound track.
This interpretation of As You Like It is very active, requiring a staff of choreographers. The show opens with four singers setting the mode. They then regale us a with dance. Thus, Joni Schlumm’s talents shine. A terrible fight breaks out, requiring the talents of Pete Shaner and Leo Walker. A duel begins calling on the choreographic talents of Tim Weske. Both the fight and dueling sequences were quite convincing. There are some dance sequences within the play, choreographed by Pamela Rotta.
As You Like It is a charming, humorous multiple love story. And, as somebody once said, "All’s well that ends well." Two lovely damsels, somewhat distressed, go into the woods in search of true love. The cross-dressing Rosalind, impish, at times, is played by Victoria Mature. No wonder Orlando de Bois, Pete Shaner, is in love with her even as she is deceiving him. Orlando’s brother Oliver (Brian Terry) falls madly in love with Celia, Elizabeth Mander-Wilson. A young shepherd, Silvius (Nick McElroy) takes a serious tumble for a lovely young shepherdess, Phoebe (Jessica Seaman). The last of the coupling is with the flamboyant Touchstone (James Steinberg), the court fool, and his dream, Audrey (Michelle Brooks), a country wench. She is verbally abused by Touchstone while she abuses him physically – truly a match made in the woods. There are sub-plots, such as brother against brother, with banished Duke Senior (Martin M. White) and his evil younger brother Duke Frederick (Marty Greenberg). Even director Anderson can be seen as Old Adam, an aging servant of minimal words. The large cast includes shepherds, servants, lords, a vicar, and even a wrestler.
There are some excellent performances, primarily from the principals. As You Like It is fun, one of The Bard’s lightest works. Dinner on the island and a stroll next to the water during intermission makes for a delightful evening at the theatre. Coronado Playhouse is staffed by very friendly folks and is the only community theatre with a decent bar.
The bard said it best:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
As You Like It"
Review in The Write Way, 9 September 2007
AS YOU LIKE IT at the Coronado playhouse review by Peggy Lips-Kaz
This the perfect time of year to enjoy a drive across the Coronado Bay Bridge. The weather and scenery are perfect. When you arrive at the beautiful building and park adjacent to the playhouse-you are in paradise.
This was the first Shakespearean play that I’ve seen with modern language used in the script. I think William would be pleased to know that modern audiences can understand his brilliance couched in our own dialog.
The play started slowly, but Shakespeare has to set the scene. By the time we got into the good part, I felt a real kinship with the characters on stage. The actors were very convincing and believed in their roles. The advice given by Rosalind about the relationship between men and women was as good as you would get on Oprah or Dr. Phil.
In the true spirit of the theatre, “the show must go on”, one of the actors was suddenly taken ill and rushed to a hospital. A veteran actor, Ray Simard filled in the lines of the missing role while still doing his own. Yes, there were a couple of cue lines given and cheat sheets used, but it didn’t detract from the mood of the play. (I would rather have a human doing a live performance than perfection on film.)
The costumes were very colorful and appropriate for the period. The stage set was simple yet convincing. The focal point was the words and the roles being played.
Two really outstanding choreographed sequences were the wrestling match and duel. The wrestlers were more believable than the professional ones, and I’m sure their bruises were too.
The most challenging part of the play was the duel between Roselind and Orlando. Not only were they really swashbuckling well, they carried on an excellent verbal point/counterpoint debate. They made the physical/mental challenge of that scene look so easy. That is like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time and counting backward from 100.
You can read about the cast/crew and their credits on the website for the playhouse.
James E. Steinberg (Touchstone-the joker) was a delightful humorous break in the seriousness of a Shakespeare play. He was very good.
Victoria Mature(Roselind) and Pete Shaner(Orlando) are the lead parts and did a great job. Never wavering in their portrayal of their roles, we were transported into their life.
The only part that was disappointing was the beginning dance/ singing portion.
Singing and dancing are expressions of happiness and joy. There were no smiles on those faces.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players:…” This is one of the most famous quotes from this play, and so it is.
The play runs from 8/31- 9/23. 2007, and it is free!!!! what ???That is right. Go to the website or call to reserve your FREE tickets, you won’t be sorry.
Review in the Gay Lesbian Times, 6 September 2007
Pastoral and courtly life, spirituality and passion, nobility, baseness, love in the forest and overarching silliness abound in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, playing through Sept. 23 at The Coronado Playhouse in the 11th incarnation of its annual free Shakespeare series. Keith A. Anderson directs.
Most of the action takes place in the Forest of Arden, where the rightful duke (Martin M. White) has lived since his brother Frederick (Marty Greenberg) usurped the crown and banished him.
The corruption of court life, represented by Duke Frederick, eventually drives the other major characters into the forest as well. Frederick banishes the rightful duke’s daughter Rosalind (Victoria Mature) and loses his own daughter Celia (Elizabeth Mander-Wilson) in the bargain when the inseparable friends take off for the forest together – Rosalind dressed en homme and calling herself Ganymede, Celia using the name Aliena.
Also on the “corrupt” side is Oliver (Brian Terry), older son of Sir Rowland de Boys, a supporter of the banished duke. Oliver, whose father has asked him to give his younger brother Orlando (Pete Shaner) a good education, has ignored this charge. Orlando asks his brother for his half of the inheritance. He gets it after he bests the court wrestler Charles (Duke) in a match, and promptly goes off in search of Rosalind.
Standouts in this production are Shaner and Mature, whose Orlando and Rosalind are a pleasure to watch (though it’s a shame we didn’t get to hear Metropolitan Opera Auditions winner Mature sing). Always-reliable Mander-Wilson is excellent as Celia. Jessica Seaman and Nick McElroy provide some laughs as the shepherd couple Phebe and Silvius.
Shakespeare lifted the plot of As You Like It from Thomas Lodge’s popular 1590 novel Rosalynde, adding wit, memorable lines and practically a stage full of couples headed for the altar by the end. It’s Shakespearean froth, a bonbon in which feuding characters reconcile (the dukes, the brothers), lots of lovers find each other, and a good time is had by all.
Review in the Daily Aztec, 4 September 2007
Shakespeare alive in Coronado
'All the world's a stage,' and this one is full of
By: Lauren Ventura, Staff Writer
Posted: 9/4/07
If you tend to enjoy getting wasted at a kegger, playing your Wii until the wee hours of the morning or engaging in long dissertations about why nothing can truly compare to Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, then you're probably not going to like "As You Like It."
Let's get real - this is a play made for true theater buffs and for people who really love Shakespeare. The lines in this performance were read in almost all original Shakespearean English with few modern changes to the vernacular. As You Like It does try to entertain its audiences with sword fights, wrestling and some laughs, but overall it is a mature comedy designed for mature viewers.
As You Like It amounts to this: When a completely greedy and grouchy Duke Frederick (Marty Greenberg) decides to usurp his brother and take over the Duchy, all hell breaks loose. Soon the Duke manages to denounce his own niece Rosalind (Victoria Mature) and daughter Celia (Elizabeth Mander-Wilson), but in the process, the lovely Rosalind has managed to fall in love with the unlikely Orlando (Pete Shaner). Orlando is despised in the court of Duke Frederick and not only that, his brother Oliver (Brian Terry) has it out to get him in order to keep the money their dead father left for them.
All banished characters land in the Forest of Arden and begin a series of follies that lead up to a typical Shakespearean ending whence everyone lives happily ever after.
Many of the performing actors are San Diego State alumni, such as the oddball court jester Touchstone (James E. Steinberg), the lovelorn shepherd boy Silvius (Nick McElroy) and another shepherd Corin (Eric Hedberg). Each actor played his part well, but unfortunately it was Mature and Mander-Wilson who truly stole the show, as their performances never lost steam. Overall it was a true-to-form adaptation of Shakespeare, so if you enjoy supporting your local theater then you'll truly appreciate this performance of As You Like It. Remember: Donations are greatly appreciated.
