The Arizona Shakespeare Company performed As You Like It on the lawn in front of the Du Bois Center on Sept. 28. The afternoon sun shone brightly on the students, teachers and local families in attendance, who sat on the grass to watch the romance and enchantment of one of The Bard’s great comedies.

As You Like It is a comedic twist on the archetypical Robin Hood fairytale, in which the famous thief is a woman named Rosalind. 

After being banished from Duke Frederick’s court, she disguises herself as a man to protect herself from sexual assault and travels to the mystical Forest of Arden. There, she meets a young man named Orlando and falls in love with him. They meet several other characters, and antics and conversations analyzing everyday life ensue.

Because of the outdoor setting, the audience interacted with the action on stage as if they were in the play themselves. The scenery consisted exclusively of a curtain between two wooden trees, which preserved the Shakespearian tradition of having little or no sets.

The acting performances contributed to the setting by making the surroundings seem magical. The fact that all of the actors played more than one role exemplified the Shakespearian tradition of making use of everything they had. For example, Ron Hammer, the actor playing the part of the narrator at the beginning of the play, also played the two dukes.

The energy of the stage business, or action onstage separate from the plot of the play, made the show especially enjoyable. From Touchstone chasing the young shepherd girl Audrey around, to Rosalind jumping and gesturing emphatically when she delivered her monologues, the constant energy of the cast kept the audience entertained.

However, one element of the performance created dissonance in the play. Tracy Mason, the actress portraying Celia, the protagonist’s cousin and companion in the story, appeared to be in her 40s. 

The actress portraying a woman who was supposed to be half her age, so I had difficulty believing her youth. I wasn’t expecting a woman with such a mature appearance to produce such tinny laughter and fake giggles, so I was startled in an unpleasant way when she did. 

The sound presented another problem. To make the performance more authentic, the thespians used no microphone equipment at all. The Du Bois Center lawn is not conducive to acoustics and I often couldn’t hear what the actors were saying.

Despite minor problems, As You Like It was a success. The experience was authentic and the acting was great.