“As You Like It”: Rough life in the forest for love

For the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ’s outdoor offering this season, we receive As you Like Itarguably Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedy. As performed in the open-air amphitheatre of the College of St Elizabeth in Convent Station, it is a light-hearted confection, as breezy as a summer breeze, in which wrongs are righted, identities are revealed, philosophers are foolish and fools are philosophical, and true love triumphs over all.

The story is well known by now. An exiled duke (Jeffrey M. Bender) and several loyal members of his court, including the melancholic philosopher Jaques (Clark Carmichael), seek refuge in the Forest of Arden. The usurper Duke Frederick (Carmichael in a dual role) also banishes the former duke’s daughter, Rosalind (Billie Wyatt), and Orlando (Jose Gamo), after many years, who each find their own way into the forest. Frederick’s daughter Celia (Brtianna Martinez), who does not want to be separated from her cousin, leaves the forest with Rosalind and they take the court jester Touchstone (Matthew Radford Davies) with them. To avoid possible problems, Rosalind disguises herself as “Ganymede” and travels as brother and sister with Celia as “Aliena”.

Romantic complications arise for everyone in the forest. When “Ganymede” meets Orlando, he offers to cure his infatuation with Rosalind by pretending Be Rosalind and Orlando are courted. Touchstone, who despises country life, nevertheless succumbs to the overripe charms of the milkmaid Audrey (Jennifer Joplin). Orlando’s evil older brother Oliver (Christian Frost), who is looking for Celia and wants to kill Orlando, meets Celia and the two fall in love instantly. Meanwhile, the shepherdess Phoebe (Emily S. Chang) also falls in love with “Ganymede” and rejects the affections of the lovesick shepherd Silvius (Jason Schlaman).

The cast, many of whom play multiple roles, is led by a delightful, seemingly loose performance from Bille Wyatt and an excellent portrayal of two men each overwhelmed by their own emotions from Clark Carmichael. The troupe was led by Jemma Alix Levy to keep things light, sometimes even hilarious – like Rosalind and Celia squealing with excitement over their new-found love. They deliver both comedy and romance with equal style. While As you Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s best-known monologues, the sobering “Seven Ages of Man,” and near the end the exiled Duke is saddened as he considers giving up his idyllic forest life to rule again. The playwright adds these moments to give the comic proceedings a touch of reality, reversing the technique he learned in his tragedies of lightening the gloom with a touch of comedy. Consider the Gravedigger in hamlet or the doorman in MacbethThe company handles this sobriety just as skillfully as it does humor.

Set design by Gabby Trice, masterfully lit by Jason Flamos, and costumes by Paul Canada add visual flair and groundedness to both the farm and the forest. Of particular note is Alexander Sovronsky’s original music, which perfectly sets the scene for Shakespeare’s texts.

As you Like It is a fairy tale without any magical elements – except the magic of love. It is a wonderful accompaniment for the summer season. I would like to warmly encourage you to make the trip to Convent Station to As you Like It!

As you Like It will be performed by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at the outdoor theatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station through July 14, 2024. For more information or tickets, visit shakespearenj.org or call 973-408-5600.