“As You Like It”

Contributed
Published: July 17, 2008

Four County Players present William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” directed by John Holdren, opening July 25 and running Thursdays and weekends through Aug. 9.
Shows begin at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. A musical pre-show begins 15 minutes before showtime. All shows are in the air-conditioned Barboursville Community Center theater. All Thursday shows are “pay what you will,” and tickets for all Friday shows are only $5. Saturday and Sunday tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for students/seniors, and $10 for children.
“As You Like It” features some of Shakespeare’s best-loved characters. There’s the “motley fool,” Touchstone, who speaks words that might serve as the play’s motto: “We that are true lovers run into strange capers.” Besides Touchstone, there’s the wise and witty heroine, Rosalind, and her dear friend, the warm and witty Celia. There’s the moody Jaques (pronounced JAY-kweez - really!), who reflects on how “All the world’s a stage.” And there’s the scornful shepherdess, Phoebe, pursued by her fawning follower, the shepherd Silvius.
Like many a Shakespeare comedy, “As You Like It” has its share of women disguised as men, mistaken identities, music and song, and unlikely but thoroughly enjoyable coincidences. And it may be the only Shakespeare comedy with a wrestling match that would not be out of place on pay-per-view TV.
The cast includes actors from last summer’s Four County production of “Twelfth Night,” as well as other local favorites:
Sara Holdren, featured as Rosalind, has just graduated from the Theater Studies program at Yale, where she has both acted in and directed various Shakespeare plays.
Sara Eshleman, who has played leading ladies in Four County’s Shakespeare productions and major roles in “Metamorphoses” and “Amadeus” at Live Arts, is featured as Celia.
Allen Van Houzen, who recently starred on Sky Masterson in Play On’s “Guys and Dolls,” plays Orlando.
Chris Estey, most recently seen in “City of Angels” at Heritage and “Mother Courage” at Live Arts, plays Oliver.
Nick Heiderstadt, recently featured in “A Little Night Music” at Live Arts and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Four County, plays Touchstone.
David Zuby, a favorite in New Lyric’s Gilbert and Sullivan shows, plays Jaques.
Claire McGurk, featured in recent performances by Charlottesville’s own cakes’n’ale theater company, plays both Adam and Phoebe.
Sean Chandler, another founding member of cakes’n’ale, and a veteran of many Shakespeare at the Ruins’ shows, plays Duke Frederick and Corin.
Mike Smith, whose local shows include “The Grapes of Wrath” at Live Arts and many Shakespeare at the Ruins’ productions, plays Duke Senior.
Brett Meslar, seen in the PVCC production of “Antigone,” plays both LeBeau and Silvius.
Addie Horan, a favorite on the local theater scene since childhood, and soon headed to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, plays Audrey and the First Lord.
Katy Walker, featured in Play On’s “Guys and Dolls” and as Olivia in Four County’s “Twelfth Night,” plays Amiens.
Andrew Willis, seen recently in “Guys and Dolls” at Play On and “In the Blood” at Live Arts, plays Charles, Sir Oliver Martext and Jack.