A case of mistaken identity
Comedy found through gender-switching as women take on Shakespeare's male roles in 'As You Like It'
Rosie Githinji
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: A&E
Junior Maggie Conroy spends half of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" as a man.
The theater performance major from St. Louis said she loves playing the lead female character Rosalind, who spends part of the time during the show disguised as a man.
"I got to make up my own man walk and my own man voice," Conroy said.
In Shakespeare's time men traditionally played the role of women, so a women on stage would have shocked the people of the era.
"Rosalind is a different kind of female character," Conroy said. "She has more freedom because she is safe under her disguise as a man and can speak her mind."
"As You Like It" tells the love story of Rosalind and Orlando. After Rosalind's father was banished by his brother Duke Frederick, Rosalind and her cousin Celia run away into the forest of Arden. During her time in the forest, Rosalind and Celia disguise themselves as men. They meet Orlando, who had fallen in love with Rosalind before she fled, and as men, counsel him in matters of love, according to cast members.
Theater and dance professor Chuck Harper is the director of "As You Like It," and said the relationship between Rosalind and Orlando is believable because it is not only love at first sight.
"What's lovely about this play is Rosalind and Orlando become friends rather than just strictly lovers," Harper said.
Harper said he and the cast began rehearsing for the play about eight weeks ago because the language and poetry of the play is more difficult to understand.
Harper said the theater and dance department likes to produce classical works, as well as modern works.
"Part of education is not just in the classroom," Harper said. "Shakespeare is like working on a puzzle. Once you get it done, it is very satisfying."
When Shakespeare wrote "As You Like It," it was in a period where people did not have as many entertainment options as in modern day. Plays would take all day because people did not have anything else to do, Harper said.
The theater performance major from St. Louis said she loves playing the lead female character Rosalind, who spends part of the time during the show disguised as a man.
"I got to make up my own man walk and my own man voice," Conroy said.
In Shakespeare's time men traditionally played the role of women, so a women on stage would have shocked the people of the era.
"Rosalind is a different kind of female character," Conroy said. "She has more freedom because she is safe under her disguise as a man and can speak her mind."
"As You Like It" tells the love story of Rosalind and Orlando. After Rosalind's father was banished by his brother Duke Frederick, Rosalind and her cousin Celia run away into the forest of Arden. During her time in the forest, Rosalind and Celia disguise themselves as men. They meet Orlando, who had fallen in love with Rosalind before she fled, and as men, counsel him in matters of love, according to cast members.
Theater and dance professor Chuck Harper is the director of "As You Like It," and said the relationship between Rosalind and Orlando is believable because it is not only love at first sight.
"What's lovely about this play is Rosalind and Orlando become friends rather than just strictly lovers," Harper said.
Harper said he and the cast began rehearsing for the play about eight weeks ago because the language and poetry of the play is more difficult to understand.
Harper said the theater and dance department likes to produce classical works, as well as modern works.
"Part of education is not just in the classroom," Harper said. "Shakespeare is like working on a puzzle. Once you get it done, it is very satisfying."
When Shakespeare wrote "As You Like It," it was in a period where people did not have as many entertainment options as in modern day. Plays would take all day because people did not have anything else to do, Harper said.
Be the first to comment on this story