As You Like It

Jovana Miletic by Rob Frith editorialOne of Shakespeare’s most delightful romantic comedies, As You Like It will be presented by Perth’s Black Swan State Theatre Company with an all WA cast in the Heath Ledger Theatre for a limited season from 17 May.

Girl falls for boy. Boy falls for girl. But when the malice of an evil duke tears them apart and forces them to flee into the forest, can love still win the day? Or more importantly: can a woman still win her man while pretending that she’s a he?

Playful, passionate and enchanting, this topsy-turvy tale of Rosalind and Orlando is chock-full of outlandish characters with some of Shakespeare’s greatest lines. Full of wit, wisdom and warmth, it’s the perfect play for anyone who’s ever been in love.

As You Like It is considered by many to be one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, and the heroine, Rosalind, is praised as one of his most inspiring characters and has more lines than any of Shakespeare’s female characters. Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke falls in love with Orlando the disinherited son of one of the duke’s friends.

When she is banished from the court by her usurping uncle, Duke Frederick, Rosalind switches genders and as Ganymede travels with her loyal cousin Celia and the jester Touchstone to the Forest of Ardenne, where her father and his friends live in exile. Observations on life and love follow (including love, aging, the natural world, and death) friends are made, and families are reunited.

By the play’s end Ganymede, once again Rosalind, marries her Orlando. Two other sets of lovers are also wed, one of them Celia and Orlando’s mean older brother Oliver. As Oliver becomes a gentler, kinder young man so the Duke conveniently changes his ways and turns to religion and so that the exiled Duke, father of Rosalind, can rule once again.

Roger Hodgman returns to Perth following the hit touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2013. He has directed Twelfth Night for the company and is a powerhouse figure and one of Australia’s most respected directors. This modern day production will feature some of Western Australia’s favourite actors with many young WAAPA graduates making their debut for the company.

“Roger Hodgman’s wonderful production features some of Western Australia’s favourite actors and a whole new crop of dazzling young things bursting onto our stage in debut performances,” says BSSTC Artistic Director, Kate Cherry.

“This light-hearted production, brimful of music, love and foibles across the generations, will enchant and delight you.”

Director: Roger Hodgman  Featuring: Caitlin Beresford-Ord, Brett Dowson, Andy Fraser, Brendan Hanson, Luke Hewitt, Geoff Kelso, Nick Maclaine, Greg McNeill, Jovana Miletic, Cecelia Peters, Igor Sas, Grace Smibert, James Sweeny, Steve Turner  Set & Costume Designer: Christina Smith  Lighting Designer: Matt Scott  Sound Designer/Composer: Ash Gibson Greig  Movement Director: Chrissie Parrot  Fight Coordinator: Andy Fraser

As You Like It Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of WA, 174 William Street, Perth Season: 17 May – 1 June 2014 Bookings: 1300 795 012 or online at: www.ticketek.com.au

For more information, visit: www.bsstc.com.au for details.

Image: Jovana Miletic – photo by Rob Frith