Door Shakespeare presents: AS YOU LIKE IT

The cast of “As You Like It.” Directed by Leda Hoffmann. Photo by Heidi Hodges Photography.

By Mary Boyle
 
When it comes to opportunities to see Shakespeare’s work performed on an outdoor stage, there are few better places to see it in all of Wisconsin than the beautiful garden of Björklunden in Baileys Harbor, surrounded by the woods of Door County and just a short walk away from the shore of Lake Michigan.  Since 1999, Door Shakespeare has produced 44 productions of classical theatre on their magical outdoor stage throughout the summer in all kinds of weather.  The drive to Door County from Ozaukee is just 2 ½ hours and, if you plan it right and quickly, you can get a full Summer-in-Door-County experience in one day: Have breakfast at Al Johnson’s with the goats on the roof; shop, hike Peninsula State Park, take a kayak tour, or taste some wine, beer, or cider, and then finish your day with one of the Bard’s most popular plays: AS YOU LIKE IT.

Directed by Leda Hoffman, As You Like It is a romantic comedy centered mainly around two lovers, Orlando (Jonathan Contreras) and Rosalind (Tina Muñoz Pandya), who meet at court when Orlando challenges the Duke’s wrestler to a match in the hope of making a name for himself. Orlando is being mistreated by his older brother, Oliver (Amro Ibrahim), who would prefer to inherit all the wealth of their late father’s estate and cut his younger brother out by whatever means necessary. Meanwhile, Rosalind is having family trouble of her own: her mother, the old Duke, has been banished from court by her aunt, the new Duke (Renée Lockett), and though she stays at court to be with her beloved cousin, Celia (Becky Keeshin), the new Duke worries that Rosalind’s presence invokes sympathy from the old Duke’s followers, casting a shadow on her rule.  

When the New Duke banishes Rosalind, Celia resolves to flee with her, along with her mother’s fool, Touchstone (Scott McKenna Campbell).  For safety, Rosalind disguises herself as a man while Celia changes her name, and the three of them escape to the woods “like Robin Hood of old.”  Shortly after they arrive in the forest, they find that the trees have been decorated by the poetry of the lovesick Orlando who, with his trusty old servant, Anna (Amy Ensign), has fled the wrath of his brother.  They also find Rosalind’s mother, the old Duke, thriving in the woods with some followers, including the melancholy Jaques (Mark Corkins).  Audrey (Isa Guitian), a dim shepherdess, helps Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone find shelter and introduces them to another lovesick gentleman, Silvius (Gabriel Smith), who is hopelessly infatuated with the scornful Phoebe (Lilah Weisman).  In the wilderness, far away from the rules of court, and with two hidden identities, intrigue, romance, and hilarity ensue.

Besides being a highly accessible renaissance RomCom, As You Like It features some of Shakespeare’s most famous quotes and biting insults, which makes it an audience favorite.  Even if you’ve never seen the play, you’ll likely recognize Jaques’ “Seven Ages of Man” speech:

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts…

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​Mark Corkins, a very familiar face at Door Shakespeare and on many Milwaukee stages, delivers the speech brilliantly.  The cast, as a whole, is very strong.  The performance by Renée Lockett was notable because the roles of the Dukes are normally played by a man, but Lockett had the proper amount of ferocity to pull it off. Scott McKenna Campbell, another regular at Door Shakespeare, was outstanding as Touchstone, but my surprise favorites were some of the youngest cast members: Gabriel Smith as Silvius/Charles the Wrestler and Lilah Weisman as Phoebe were an absolute delight to watch. Because the majority of this play is set in the forest, the setting at Door Shakespeare couldn’t be any better, and the music, directed by Scott McKenna Campbell and performed by Isaiah Spetz as Amiens is a lovely accompaniment.

Family-friendly and full of culture, nature, and fun, I highly recommend taking at least one day to make Door County and Door Shakespeare a part of your summer experience.  Tell them Mary sent you!
 
AS YOU LIKE IT runs through August 26, 2023, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. in the garden at Björklunden, located at 7590 Boynton Lane in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin.  Tickets are $40/$45/$50 (Students: $30/$33.75/$22.50; Children 11 years old and under: $/$20/$22.50/$25) and are available online at https://doorshakespeare.com/ or by calling the daytime Box Office at 920.854.7111.
 
About Door Shakespeare
Since 1999, Door Shakespeare has produced 44 striking productions of classical theater, which have been recognized and ranked in the top 10 theatrical experiences in the state of Wisconsin by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in the Garden of Björklunden’s 405-acre estate on Lake Michigan in Baileys Harbor.  Door Shakespeare’s presence continues to grow and is enriched by educational programming, including Door Shakespeare’s Camp Will, Will in the Woods, Shake it up Saturday, and Shakespeare in the Schools.  As a professional theatre company, Door Shakespeare employs members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.  Door Shakespeare is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts and is a proud member of The Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) and partner of the Folger Shakespeare Library.  For more information, visit https://doorshakespeare.com/.