Navy Pier as seen from the window of the
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare
Theater
Reviews below

"As You Like It"
by William Shakespeare
Review by Ed Vincent

Rosalind speaks to Celia and comments: " Let me see; what
think you of falling in love?" So starts the comedy of love,
for this play entreats all to imagine a time of more innocence
and yet filled with the wit of the noble Shakespeare.  When
young Orlando comes forth to wrestle and show his honor and
valor, both youthful women ask him to forgo the trial thinking
it too one sided and not winnable.

Orlando responds with; " No, fair princess; he is the general
challenger: I come but in, as others do, to try with him the
strength of my youth. "  Perhaps simplistic or perhaps direct
Orlando states his case as the two women plead with him to
have a change of heart.

What follows is well executed acrobatic fighting performed
like professional wrestling as seen on television ( before its
invention ).

The play's settings and lighting are artistically presented
with taste and skill.  A change of color here and there entreats
our vision to transform a forest into a courtyard or another
change of lights brings the feel of winter.  The show is a feast for all
the senses, and from any seat in the house.  Some of the comic
adventure brings us cross dressing women running from hate, and
to love.

At times the theater is filled with the Dukes scouts, searching
for the runaways fleeing his control.

We meet Nomadic travelers, folk singers, gaiety, and cleverly
worded encounters of written words and spoken thoughts

"All the world's a stage......"  comes to our ears, that well
known phrase from the king of bards, as mistaken identities,
confused missions, and crossed paths of adventure keeps you
glued to your seat.

Loves conquers all, be it glandular or platonic, it is for
us all.  The production is top notch and another gift for the
audience to behold.

Disguised as a young man, Rosalind (front, Elizabeth Laidlaw)
faints into the arms of her cousin Celia (right, Kate Fry) and Oliver
(Mark L. Montgomery) who fall in love at first sight
.photo by Liz Lauren
 

Celia (Kate Fry) comforts her cousin Rosalind (Elizabeth Laidlaw)
.photo by Liz Lauren

Chicago Shakespeare Theater rings in the New Year with
William Shakespeare's comedy
AS YOU LIKE IT

Performances continue through March 9, 2002
Complete Extended Schedule...click here

Chicago-January 13, 2002-Chicago Shakespeare Theater begins the
New Year with Shakespeare's comedy of mistaken identities and
misguided love, As You Like It, directed by David H. Bell.
Performances are scheduled to run through March 9, 2002.
David Bell has already directed two triumphant, crowd-pleasing
productions for Chicago Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors and
Much Ado About Nothing. As You Like It is the first play that
Mr. Bell will direct for the company in its courtyard theater
on Navy Pier. "Any time I come to Chicago to direct, it feels
like I'm coming home to the most exciting, inspiring and
compelling theater city in the world. The new theater at
Navy Pier is thrilling. Without abandoning the intimacy
that was the hallmark of the company's past residence,
the new space embraces an elegance and sweep that thoroughly
informs the plays performed in it."

Growing up is risky business for the young heroes of As You Like
It. From the perils of the Court, Rosalind, Celia and Orlando pack
their bags and head for the Forest of Arden, where a person may be
safe from treason and murder, but no one is spared from the hazards
of love. Disguised in boy's garb, Rosalind explores the forest and
discovers the complex terrain of her own heart.

The cast of As You Like It includes: Elizabeth Laidlaw as
Rosalind/Ganymede; Kate Fry as Celia; Timothy Gregory as Orlando;
Greg Vinkler as Jaques; Mark L. Montgomery as Oliver;  Saxon Palmer
as Touchstone; Kate Buddeke as Audrey; Amy Montgomery as Phebe;
Ian Brennan as Silvius; Patrick Clear as Duke Senior; James Harms as
Adam; Roger Mueller as Corin; Will Dickerson as Le Beau; David Turrentine
as Amiens; and Michael F. Goldberg as Charles. Kevin Asselin, Rob Beams,
Brian J. Gill, Gregory Thomas Isaac, Luke Mills, and Howie Smith round
 out the ensemble.

Director David H. Bell is the winner of eight Jeff Awards and is the
former Associate Artistic Director of Alliance Theatre in Atlanta,
where his credits include: A Christmas Carol (1999), Chess, The Grapes
of Wrath, The Sum of Us, Hot Mikado, Little Me, Romeo and Juliet, The
Dark at the Top of the Stairs, One Last Summer, Dreams from a Summer
House, Once on this Island, La Bête, and Falsettos. For Alliance
Children's Theatre his credits include:  The Legend of Pecos Bill and
Klondike, both of which he wrote and directed, The Emperor's Nightingale
and The Snow Queen. He has worked at the Kennedy Center, Royal National
Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Carnegie Hall.

The creative team for As You Like It includes designers who for the
first time bring their talents to Chicago Shakespeare. Scenic design
by James Leonard Joy places the court in a decadent nineteenth-century
Russia in Byzantine style-an ornate design which reflects a depraved
world, "civilization gone awry," as director David H. Bell describes it.
When the wanderers flee the court, they must first pass through the bitter
Siberian winter before arriving at last in Arden. The costume design by
Mariann Verheyen introduces the dark, lush elegance of pre-Napoleanic
Russia, along with colorful and playful peasant clothing. Lighting
design is by Howard Werner; sound design is by Brian Kettler; and
the original score is composed by Henry Marsh.

Performances scheduled to run through March 9, 2002. The performance
schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with a
1:00 p.m. matinee on Wednesday; Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 4:00
and 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., with a special Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
performance on February 24.

Ticket prices are $40 for performances Tuesday through Thursday, and $52
for performances Friday through Sunday. For more information about
performances or events at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and to purchase
tickets, call the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Box Office at 312.595.5600
or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

Kraft Foods, an operating company of Philip Morris, Inc., is the sponsor
of As You Like It.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
PERFORMANCES OF As You Like It

* Open Forum on Saturday, January 19, 2002 at 1:45 p.m., exploring As
You Like It, with artist and guest scholars in an informal discussion.

* Pre(Amble, a half-hour introductory lecture on As You Like It, takes
place Saturday, February 23 at 3:00 p.m., prior to the 4:00 p.m.
performance, and Sunday, February 24 at 2:00 p.m., prior to the 3:00 p.m.
performance.

* After Words, a post-show discussion with a guest scholar or theater
practitioner, takes place after the 3:00 p.m. performance on Sunday, March 3.

* Cast Call, an informal discussion with the actors in the Theater's Pub,
is Friday, February 1 at 6:45 p.m.

* Talk Back discussions with select members of the cast follow all Wednesday
matinees and the 3:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, January 20.

* Access Shakespeare: duo sign-interpretation for the hearing impaired and
audio description for the visually impaired for As You Like It is Tuesday,
March 5 at 7:30 p.m.

* Inside Out Theater Tours take place at 12:45 p.m. on the first Saturday
of every month through May.

Location:  Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier

Performances:  Scheduled through March 9, 2002

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Weekday - $40
TUESDAY January 22, 29 7:30 p.m.

February 12, 19

March 5*

WEDNESDAY January 16, 23, 30 1:00 & 7:30 p.m.

February 6, 13, 27

WEDNESDAY February 20 7:30 p.m. only

March 6

THURSDAY January 17, 24, 31 7:30 p.m.

February 7, 14, 28

March 7

Weekend - $52

FRIDAY January 18, 25 8:00 p.m.

February 1, 8, 15, 22

March 1, 8

SATURDAY January 19, 26 4:00 & 8:30 p.m.

February 2, 9, 16, 23

March 2, 9

SUNDAY January 20, 27  3:00 p.m.

February 3, 10, 17, 24

SUNDAY February 17, 24  7:30 p.m.

 
* The duo sign-interpreted and audio-described performance of
As You Like It is on Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.

COMING SOON TO CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

The Tempest, March 29-June 2, 2002

The final production of the three-play subscription series is William
Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Once
Duke of Milan, Prospero is deposed by his brother, cast to sea with his daughter
Miranda, and finds sanctuary at last upon an exotic island among its strange
inhabitants and spirits.  When he conjures a storm that shipwrecks his old
enemies upon his island, sorcery and revenge give way to the inclinations of
the heart in this spectacular tale of nature and the human spirit unleashed.
Preview performances for The Tempest begin March 29, 2002; the Press Opening
is Sunday, April 7; performances are scheduled to run through June 9, 2002.

The Tempest is exclusively sponsored by the Sara Lee Foundation.

For more information about performances or events at Chicago Shakespeare
Theater and to purchase tickets, call the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Box
Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website
at www.chicagoshakes.com.
 

DIRECTIONS FROM OAK PARK

Coming from Oak Park by car, go to Lake Shore Drive and
head North from the 290 Expressway.  When you approach
the river you want to be in the far right lane and exit as soon
as you get over the river.  Navy Pier is straight ahead of you.
Drive to the Pier and go to the North side of the building for
parking.  Do not go into the first entrance, the Theater is about
two or more entrances from your first turn.  Bring your ticket
with you and have it stamped at intermission or before you leave
for a 40% reduction in parking. Three and a half hours comes
to a little more than $10.00.