As You Like It at Sherman Playhouse

The opposing themes of love vs. betrayal, good vs. evil, city vs. country, and sophistication vs. rusticity will be the talk of the town of Sherman and its surrounding communities when the Sherman Players present William Shakespeare's As You Like It. The bard's classic comedy opens August 2 and runs weekends through August 24 at the Sherman Playhouse, located at the junction of Routes 37 & 39, behind the Sherman Firehouse.

The director is Jane Famol of Kent, whose directorial credits include Hay Fever, A Midsummer Night's Dream and An Ideal Husband. The producer is Irit Granger of Sherman, an ex-president of the Players and the producer of several of the plays Famol has directed in Sherman.

As You Like It is a comedy of love and alternative lifestyles that more than fulfills the promise of its title. The pastoral romance, written after his historical drama, Julius Caesar, and before his Oedipal tragedy, Hamlet, As You Like It emerged during what is said to be a quiet, happy period in Shakespeare's life.

Famol has set the Sherman Players' production in the 1960s as a means of pointing to a turbulent time when people wanted to escape war and the intrusive influences of big business and materialism. Complete with exiled lovers reunited, woodland meanderings, mistaken identities, political wrongs set right and young love pitted against the vanities of court, As You Like It has been a favorite with audiences throughout the centuries.

The play concerns the plight of Duke Senior, played by David Rowan of Roxbury, who is driven from his court by his villainous and greedy younger brother, Duke Frederick, played by Douglas Miller of Newtown—who also plays Jacques, a melancholy but wise character. Duke Senior is in exile in the Forest of Arden with devoted followers, living off the land, hunting and playing games.

Simultaneous to the conflicts at court is the conflict between Orlando, played by Simon Cole of Bridgewater, and his older brother Oliver, played by David Stull of Kent. Orlando accuses Oliver of withholding his rightful inheritance and denying him an education. After a violent argument between them, Oliver meets up with Duke Frederick's wrestler, Charles, played by Alex Echevarria of New Milford, and asks the wrestler to harm Orlando if he chooses to fight him in the wrestling contest the next day.

In the presence of Duke Frederick, his courtier Le Beau (lan Hefele of Norwalk), his Lord Sebastian (Daryl Howell of Danbury), his daughter Celia (Jacqueline Rowland of Woodbury), Duke Senior's daughter Rosalind (Deborah Branco of Danbury), and his Lady (Irit Granger of Sherman), Orlando and Charles fight and Orlando manages to throw Charles and win the match. Rosalind falls in love with Orlando on the spot but Orlando is forced to flee from his brother, and he and his servant Adam (Joe Johnston of Pawling, NY) depart for the forest of Arden.

The plot takes many more twists and turns, adding other actors whose characters add to the confusion. Jonathan Ross of Thomaston plays Touchstone, the court fool, and Marty Fay of Woodbury plays Corin, an elderly man. Eli Lefferts of Bethel and Ryan O'Grady of New Milford play lords Amiens and Montrose, respectively. Touchstone and William, a country fellow portrayed by Scott Nelson of New Milford, both fall in love with Audrey, a country girl, played by K.C. Ross of Thomaston. Another country boy, Silvius, played by Steven Oliveri of Patterson, NY, falls in love with Phebe, Agnes Fohn of Sherman, who scorns his love and in turn falls in love with Ganymede—Rosalind in disguise.

After a series of hilarious love matches, mismatches and merry deceptions, everyone gathers the next day when Rosalind arrives and makes all of the lovers reaffirm their promises and vows, at which time Jessica Granger of Sherman as Luna, goddess of love, performs all four subsequent marriages: Rosalind to Orlando, Celia to Oliver, Phebe to Silvius, and Audrey to Touchstone. Thus all prior conflicts are resolved and the audience is treated to a robust, happy ending.

As You Like It opens on August 2 and runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. through August 24, with Sunday matinees on August 11 and August 18 at 3 p.m. A complementary reception for the opening night audience will begin at 7:30 p.m. and continue at intermission. Seniors are invited, admission free, to the preview performance on Thursday, August 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and students; for reservations and more info, call the box office at 860-354-3622.