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There were flowers instead of swords. Love instead of murder.
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From left, Orlando, played by Andrew Carlson, attacks his older brother Oliver, played by David Graham Jones, as Adam, played by Jacques Roy, watches the commotion in the Great River Shakespeare’s Festival’s "As You Like It." (Photo by Paul Solberg/Winona Daily News) |
The comedy is the counterpoint to the tragedy, “Macbeth,” GRSF’s other offering.
Musical interludes stretch the production to more than three hours, but the cast maintained its energy during a Thursday night preview show.
Carla Noack returns for her third season with the company as Rosalind. The talented actress enraptured the audience with her every expression, especially fawning over Orlando, played by Andrew Carlson.
The bond between Noack’s Rosalind and Celia, played by Tarah Flanagan, shows the power and beauty of friendship as the two plot to run off to the Forest of Arden.
“If she be a traitor, why so am I,” Celia tells her father, Duke Frederick, played by Christopher Gerson, when he banishes Rosalind.
The staging, as usual, is simple. Leaves strung in netting hint at the forest setting. A snowfall provides a nice and unexpected touch.
Chris Mixon stands out as Charles, a ribald wrestler. Outfitted all in black with a belt cinched a little too high, he wears a black headband around his head “Karate Kid” style.
Audience members grimaced Thursday at the sound of skin sliding against the wood stage as Charles and Orlando grappled.
Carlson as Orlando falls completely and cluelessly in love with Rosalind. In one scene he is unable to carry on a simple conversation with her.
Jonathan Gillard Daly as Jaques eloquently delivers the familiar “All the world’s a stage” passage in a way that is unfamiliar but convincing.
Laura Coover as Phebe and Zachary Fine as Silvius, a young shepherd who is in love with her, provide laughs whenever they’re on stage together. Fine is comically forlorn, and the meaner Coover is, the harder the laughs.
Those looking for a good laugh and a happy ending should like “As You Like It.”
If You go
What: “As You Like It”
When: 7 p.m. tonight
Where: Winona State University’s Performing Arts Center’s Main Stage
Schedule, tickets: “Macbeth” and “As You Like It” will be performed through July 29. Tickets are $20 to $35. For a complete schedule or for tickets, visit www.grsf.org.
Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
? wrote on Jun 30, 2007 9:18 AM: