The theme for this year’s Santa Cruz Shakespeare festival is “Generations” and, as Artistic Director Charles Pasternak states, it “looks forward; each of these masterpieces focuses on the young inheriting the world.” As such, I brought my 10-year-old daughter to opening night. I was explaining the premise to her on the drive up to The Grove having just watched a televised view of the famous wrestler Hulk Hogan tear off his shirt on stage at the Republican National Convention.
I explained to her that one of the main characters, Orlando, is upset after his father has died because he is not given any of his inheritance, and so he challenges a professional wrestler to prove his courage. “A professional wrestler on stage?” The irony was not lost on her. I got to the part about Orlando’s older brother Oliver telling the wrestler Charles that he would be glad if during the match he were to break his brother’s neck.
“That’s enough. Don’t tell me any more. Now, I want to know what happens next.
YouTubers do this all the time.” And so we took our seats in the Grove, and from the first moment of the play till the famous epilogue, she was happily engaged in the unfolding story. The play is long, but it is beautifully staged and the actors are exquisite company.
They became celebrities to her in one night. As we saw them in attendance the following night she was starstruck and said: “I want to sit where the cool kids are sitting.” More than just a victory for me as a dad, this was monumental feedback on the production.
What an astounding feat, to entertain a 10-year-old with Elizabethan language. It is one of my favorite plays, and this cast and direction more than did it justice. They elevated it in the most Shakespearean way imaginable: it was both entertaining and high art.
For the play to work, the audience has to fall in love with Rosalind and Orlando. Their amorous evolution is the spine that holds the meandering and philosophical content together, and Charlotte Munson and Elliot Sagay make an adorable and formidable pair. Sagay swaggers and swoons with equal parts bravado and vulnerability.
Munson plots as Rosalind and plays the part of Ganymede with satisfying confidence and composure. Anna Takayo makes a great contrast as Rosalind’s loyal cousin Celia who coyly watches the love affair unfold until she is swept off her feet with infatuation herself. In addition to the love stories, the play thrives on the performance of its fools and followers.
Patty Gallagher makes a great Touchstone, infusing the hilarious character with her brilliant comedic style. Paige Lindsey White plays a hilariously affected Le Beau. Her version of the melancholy Jaques, however, is a show stealing performance.
She speaks the famous line “All the world’s a stage” with a depth of feeling that animates her description of the seven stages of life that follows. This is a crucial moment in the play as it comments on the role of theater and frames life as a kind of art. White articulates this meaningful moment with eloquence worthy of the role.
It would be a shame to fail to mention the performance of Raphael Nash Thompson who plays both dukes, Duke Senior and his usurping brother Duke Fredrick. He has to go from the jealous rage of a corrupt ruler to the beloved and beatific contemplativeness of a leader of the exiles living contentedly in the forest of Arden. One aspect of the play that sometimes poses problems to a production is the music.
There are several songs throughout the play. In this rendition, however, the Santa Cruz Shakespeare team leaned in — as they are known to do — and turned these puzzling moments into beautiful performances. Indeed, the sound design for the entire play is exquisite, but the songs are especially masterful.
Even Celia’s dream becomes a haunting and gorgeous dance. When the play had finished, and the audience stood to give a deserving ovation to the outstanding cast, I looked at my daughter with a “Well?” expression on my face. “Favorite play ever.
” Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s rendition of “As You Like It” can be seen through Sept. 1 at Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz. go to santacruzshakespeare.
org for tickets and information..
