Four County Players show

Love at first sight is a wonderful thing.

In the case of the Four County Players’ summer Shakespeare production of “As You Like it,” it's the premise of an amusing, outrageous and intentionally confusing adventure that opened July 31 in Barboursville.

Though critically acclaimed and wildly popular, Shakespeare isn’t always fun for everyone. The iambic pentameter can be distracting, even without the “thees” and “thous.” But the Four County troupe does a wonderful job of making the production understandable and accessible -- with modern touches.

However, all but the most ardent Shakespeare fans can save themselves some trouble reading the “What happens in the play” summary provided in the program. A glance at that before the opening helps the audience keep up with the story -- even if some of the finer points of dialogue are lost.

Our story starts with the death of Sir Rowland de Boys, who left his estate to the oldest of his three sons, Oliver, with instructions to care and educate his brother Orlando. Third son Jack is off to school and not a factor. Oliver has little use for Orlando and treats him no better than livestock. Oliver attempts to dispatch Orlando with a staged wrestling match-sure he’ll lose big and be out of his well-slicked-back hair.

Meanwhile Duke Frederick has banished his older brother Duke Senior. Duke Senior and his followers camp out in the Arden Forest, while his daughter Rosalind remains at the court with her cousin Celia, daughter of Duke Frederick.

When Rosalind runs into Orlando, it’s love at first sight. All the stage stands still except for the two of them and “Unchained Melody” unwinds in the background. Still, Orlando is scheduled to face the champion Charles and things look bleak for our newly infatuated friend.

Charles emerges into the ring ripped and “buff” in a performance worthy of WWF acclaim.

Orlando and Charles tussle and, well, love can be more powerful than muscle.

But in victory, Orlando finds defeat. His newfound love Rosalind is banished by her uncle and she flees with Celia and the fool Touchstone to the Arden Forest. There, in classic Shakespeare comedy, Rosalind crops her hair and disguises herself as a young man (Ganymede), while Celia pretends she’s a shepherdess. There, they meet a young shepherd (Silvius) who is lovesick for Phoebe, a scornful shepherdess.

Lots of unrequited love floating around in the forest Arden.

Meanwhile, Orlando learns Oliver is plotting against his life and he too heads for the Arden Forest where he runs into Ganymede (really Rosalind) and tells her of his true love. Naturally, being the helpful sort, she pledges to help him cure his romantic notions by pretending to be Rosalind-a role for which she would seem well-suited.

So, the gullible Orlando practices his love lessons with his new buddy Ganymede.

But he’s not the only one interested in Ganymede. Phoebe spots the young man (woman) and abruptly scorns the fawning Silvius for the popular Ganymede -- another love at first sight scene-albeit a one-way street.

Oliver arrives in the forest a changed man after Orlando saves his life. When he runs into Ganymede and Celia, another love at first sight event occurs between Celia and Oliver when all time stops and 1970s pop hit “What a Feeling” plays in the background. Good times.

Ultimately, the clever Rosalind/Ganymede decides it’s time to come clean and things just have a way of working out in the end.

Touchstone, the “motley fool” sums up what might be the play's unofficial motto when he says, “We that are true lovers run into strange capers.”
Pretending your new buddy is your girlfriend certainly would qualify.

As director Holdren notes, “the play insists on its own theatricality -- as one character famously states, ‘All the world's a stage...’” Thus, the setting is no particular time or place. It is, rather, “this wide and universal theater” -- any time and anywhere that love makes people fall into “strange capers.”

Sara Holdren stars as Rosalind/Ganymede. Her energy is infectious and carries each scene. Sara Eshleman (Celia) plays a nice complement to Holdren as they share most scenes together.

Allen VanHouzen (Orlando) plays “wildly in love” quite well. He’s almost manic in his energetic movements about the stage -- clearly under the influence of love.

Claire McGurk portrays the saucy Phoebe well and doubles as Orlando's old-man servant Adam. Two disparate roles if ever there were.

Nick Heiderstadt plays the fool Touchstone and handles his relationship with the naughty goat herder Audrey (Addie Horan) quite comically.

Overall, everyone involved in the production has done a wonderful job of making this admittedly outrageous performance modern, accessible and enjoyable for everyone from minors to English majors.

“As You Like It” runs Thursdays and weekends through Aug. 9.

Shows begin at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. A musical pre-show begins 15 minutes before showtime. All shows are in the Barboursville Community Center Theater. All Thursday shows are “pay what you will,” and tickets for all Friday shows are only $5.

Saturday and Sunday tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for students/seniors, and $10 for children.

For tickets, call the box office at (540) 832-5355.