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SHAKESPEARE'S COMEDIC LOOK AT LOVE
 AS YOU LIKE IT': Rebecca Heihn, left, and Rose Stevens in character as Rosalind and Celia for EOU's production of "As You Like It," by William Shakespeare. (Photo/KENN WHEELER). LA GRANDE - When an evil duke usurps the crown and banishes nearly the entire court into the woods, the stage is set for romance in "As You Like It," a comedy by William Shakespeare. Prepare to be transported to the Forest of Arden by the Eastern Oregon University theatre department. "As You Like It" will play May 16-19 at 8 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre. "William Shakespeare's comical look at love in May what could be more timely?" said April Curtis, professor of theatre and director of the show. "This production features some of the best and brightest actors in our program, many of whom will be graduating this year." The challenging lead character, Rosalind, is played by Rebecca Heihn, a senior from Hermiston majoring in theatre and psychology at EOU. In the tale, Rosalind, the daughter of Duke Senior, is banished to the Forest of Arden by her evil uncle, Duke Frederick. For safety she disguises herself as a man named Gandymede. While still in disguise she meets up with her beau, Orlando, and decides to test the strength of his love for her. As Gandymede, she offers to pretend to be Rosalind so that Orlando may practice wooing her. "This is supposedly the hardest, most complicated female role Shakespeare ever wrote. I'm a woman playing a man who is playing a woman," Heihn said. All the while, separate and unexpected love stories are unfolding in the forest. EOU theatre alum Chuck Peters plays the legendary role of Touchstone the clown. In this tale of mistaken identities, two EOU faculty members have been cast as opposing characters. Greg Monahan, professor of history, and Richard Croft, associate professor of computer science and multimedia studies, play the evil Duke Frederick and the good Duke Senior. "It can be so much fun playing the bad guy," Monahan said. "My character is a pretty nasty guy, but he comes around in the end." Monahan has landed roles in three previous EOU productions of Shakespeare plays. He knew after reading "As You Like It" that he wanted to try out for this one too. "I have a rule though. I don't take big parts in plays because those are for the students," he said. "What I really enjoy is being a part of a troupe." Kenny Faust, Michael Cooper, Rose Stevens, Erin Kinzer, Logan Pedrow, Frederick Stutzman, Danae Yurgel, Jennifer Romriell and Seth Olson join Heihn, Monahan, Croft and Peters in the cast. "The show will be a real crowd pleaser," Curtis said. "This is arguably Shakespeare's finest comedy, with an all-star cast." Tickets are $8 for general admission, $6 for EOU students and seniors. For more information or to purchase tickets call the EOU Theatre Box Office at 962-3757. |
