By Shelby Daniel
The Theatrical Outreach Program (T.O.P.) concluded their 2018 spring season with William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” their second slot show of the semester.
Presenting Shakespeare to a college audience in a conventional and enjoyable way can be difficult task. However, despite the reputation the Bard often gets for being boring and indecipherable, the cast and crew delivered a phenomenal rendition of the often presented classic.
The show centers around two lovers, Rosalind (Annina Black, FCRH ‘19) and Orlando (Patrick Fox, FCRH ‘20). Banishment and an initially spiteful older brother separately drive the two into the Forest of Arden. Accompanied by her cousin Celia (Alex Mandalakis, FCRH ‘20), Rosalind stumbles upon some shepherds in the forest. Meanwhile, Orlando manages to find Rosalind’s banished father, Duke Senior (Sean Coffey, FCRH ‘19).
Naturally, goofiness and misdirection ensue, including but not limited to: cross-dressing, an attack by a lioness, bad poetry hung on trees and lots of well-meaning sheep. The play ultimately ends with a wedding – for four separate marriages.
Accompanying the actors and their antics on stage was a small jazz ensemble who played pieces throughout the show, often joined by the singing of one or more of the characters. Songs included classic standards such as “Pennies From Heaven,” “Get Happy” and ended with a fun group rendition of “Cheek to Cheek.”
Directer Katie Dolan, FCRH ‘18, explored the usually thought to be complex world of Shakespeare by bringing out the nonsensical humor of one of his most popular comedies. Dolan’s direction made it clear that the show was not about a particularly deep message, but rather the sometimes absurd nature of love and what people tend to do to achieve it.
With regards to “As You Like It” being Dolan’s last show with the theater community here at Fordham, Dolan said, “it was a great show to go out on. The point of the show was to have a lot of fun, and I think we all did.”
The energy and enjoyment the cast had while acting transferred well to the audience. Not only did I have fun, but I also left the show wanting to buy a sheep.
