As You Like It

<p>William Shakespeare's comedy <em>As You Like It (</em>adapted by playwright Stephen Evans) offers what may be his funniest. most complex and most sophisticated presentation of the ups and downs ins and outs and most especially roundabouts of love and romance. </p><p></p><p>Set entirely in the forest of Arden and compressed from five acts to two this adaptation was presented in 1999 at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre an outdoor summer theater in Annapolis Maryland.</p><p></p><h3><strong>From the Foreword</strong>:</h3><p></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>As You Like It</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is probably my favorite of all of Shakespeare's works and other than A Midsummer Night's Dream his finest comedy. I adapted and directed the play (and reluctantly played Duke Senior) for the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre in 1999. It was my only foray into directing and a joyful one. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre is an outdoor summer theater in Annapolis Maryland. The theater is in what was once a blacksmith shop right at the city dock. It is a wonderful space that produces wonderful theater experiences. There is even a tree growing in the audience seating area which was perfect for this play.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Why adapt Shakespeare rather than produce it as written? The Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre is set in the courtyard of a property known as the Shaw Blacksmith Shop the original structure dating back to the mid-1700s when Annapolis was still a commercial port. The theater operates only in the summer and Summer in Annapolis can be hot. Audiences don't seem to mind since the theater is often sold out. But our audiences were more used to two-hour musicals than three-hour plays. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Perhaps I didn't give our audience enough credit. However for better or worse I decided to shorten the play. But rather than cut a line here and there I chose to cut the entire first act eliminating the setting of the court. This not only shortened the playing time but it also had another effect that I liked a great deal. All of the play now took place in the forest of Arden a perfect setting for this pastoral gem. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In addition because our audiences were used to it I realigned the scenes into two acts. This is perhaps not as unfaithful to Shakespeare's intent as it might seem since the Quartos published during his lifetime has no act break. The breaks were added as (I think) a convenience when the Folios were published after his death.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Note: There was no bearbaiting between acts; just candy and soda in the lobby.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The audiences seemed to enjoy it all. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I know I did. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I hope you will too.</span></p><p></p><p>Stephen Evans</p>