'As You Like It' gets sexy, modern spin

You might think that turning a Shakespearean play into a modern masterpiece wouldn't be such an easy feat, but the people of Theatre South Carolina are taking that challenge on with their production of the comedy "As You Like It."

Directed by Robert Richmond, an acclaimed director and adjunct faculty member from New York University, this production is going to be decidedly sexier and more contemporary than most other Shakespearean plays.

This production, set in a Celtic community instead of Shakespeare's originally intended France, takes place on a giant raised bookcase that serves as a stage. It also features other bookcases on cables and a musical score infused with contemporary rock and Celtic violin. But for all of the modern staging and music, the actual play stays true to Shakespeare's timeless and universal themes.

Fourth-year theatre and economics student and stage manager Abbie Isaac has helped to produce her share of Theatre South Carolina productions, and she denies the idea that Shakespeare's material can't find an audience today.

"Shakespeare's plays are very relevant, so it's not difficult for actors to make it feel modern," Isaac said.

One such actor is first-year master of fine arts graduate student Daryl Ball, who has a great appreciation for the modern staging.

"You won't see people in tights," Ball said.

Ball plays the role of Orlando, the story's disinherited main character who, without the advantage of the gentlemanly education his elder brother receives, finds himself jealous. His character undergoes many ups and downs, many of which he thinks today's younger generation can still identify with.

"The stuff [Shakespeare wrote about], it still happens. There's moments when you bump into someone you're attracted to and you can't talk. And she leaves and you're like 'What's wrong with me, I'm a moron!' And that's funny because we've all been there, we've all done that," Ball said.

Staging "As You Like It" in this way "makes a lesser known Shakespeare play very accessible," said third-year theatre student Emily Bennett.

"And I think it would really sort of help modern audiences adapt to the text and keep it alive," Bennett said.

More than anything else, the cast and crew see this production as a romantic comedy, largely thanks to the vision of the director Richmond.

"He knows the audience he's trying to reach, and he knows how to use Shakespearean texts and make a romantic comedy out of it," Bennett said.

"I think there is a very large audience for this show. It's a great date night, because it's romantic and sexy. A girl's night out would also be appropriate," Isaac said.

But Ball said that it's really the high quality of the production that will draw audiences.

"I moved out here from Los Angeles and I've been very impressed with the caliber of productions the university puts on. And I would wager that if you went to Charlotte or Atlanta or to another big city to see a production of this caliber you're going to pay about $40," Ball said.

Student tickets are $10. The play will be performed in Drayton Hall tonight at 8 p.m. and will run through next Saturday.