Did you like ‘As You Like it’?

By Josh O’Gorman Herald Staff

Seventeenth-century prose will meet early 20th-century Ireland when the Weston Playhouse Theater Co. closed its summer season with William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”

It was the second Shakespeare production at the playhouse in nine years — besides “Twelfth Night” in 1999 — said producing director Steve Stettler.

“We’ve done so few (Shakespeare plays) because Shakespeare requires a large cast and requires such a long rehearsal time because of the language,” Stettler said, but “As You Like It” provides a balance to the more serious themes of earlier plays this season, like “Doubt” and “The Light in the Piazza.”

“The comedies are enjoyable and we know they go over well in the summer, plus we wanted something to complement the season,” Stettler said.

Director Brendon Fox chose to set the play in early 20th-century Ireland, a choice Stettler found pleasing.

“I love the choice of Ireland. Sometimes, people will impose something upon Shakespeare — ‘Let’s stage “Hamlet” on the moon’ — but it works when you find a historical framework to make it resonate,” Stettler said. “The character of Rosalind is really an early feminist, and early 20th century was an important time for women’s suffrage.”

Fox agreed, saying, “If Rosalind and Celia were kind of like the birds in the gilded cage, I think that fits with the early 20th-century period.”

Fox said he took a trip to Ireland and found the themes of the play to match the country.

“There’s so much talk about love and the poetry of love and there’s so much of that in Ireland,” Fox said. “Also, there’s storytelling and a sense of melancholy present in the play and the country.”

Pen said for a musical composer, “As You Like It” offered her lots of opportunity because it has the most number of songs of any Shakespeare play.

“The general notion is that it’s a very musical work, so it gave me a larger musical canvas than other Shakespeare plays,” Pen said. “For me, it’s way of reconnecting with the greatest writer in literature. I’m a musical writer and I’m used to working with my own words, so it’s fun to wrangle with his lyrics. I try to subvert them and then I usually give in.”

Of her music for the play, Pen said, “I wanted to give a feel for — without particularly imitating — Irish music.”

“As You Like It” will be open to the public until Sept. 6. The following week, Stettler said, the cast will perform for students from more than 30 different schools.

The playhouse will then take the show on the road, performing throughout Vermont and New England, thanks in part to a $20,000 grant for the National Endowment for the Arts.

“There are people who will travel to Weston to see us during the summer, but not everybody can and during the tour we try to reach as much of the state as possible,” Stettler said.

“I’m thrilled that Weston is doing another Shakespeare and I’m honored to be a part of it,” Fox said. “It’s a very rich tapestry of a play and I think there’s something for everyone.”

Contact Josh O’Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com.