Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” is a comedy about finding yourself, being yourself and learning to like yourself as you are. Here, after royal brothers argue about who should be boss in court, the daughter of one (Rosalind) is banished. She takes her cousin Celia (daughter of the other) with her and they escape the bickering by moving to the Forest of Eden, where anybody can be anything and rules are meant to be broken. Or maybe there are no rules.
But what happens then? La Jolla Playhouse and Diversionary Theatre are co-producing a a new, “gender-full” version that explores all the possibilities of love, gender and self-discovery.
The show is co-directed by LJP’s Artistic Director Christopher Ashley and Will Davis, associate professor in the John Wells Directing Program at Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. Davis is transgender, and the cast of trans, non-binary and queer performers offer an updated version of Will’s 16th century play, first published and performed in 1623.
Oh, the original characters are there. The brothers Oliver (TaiReikca L.A.) and Orlando (Esco Jouley), more or less pitted against each other at court, can relax a bit in the wild and just be bros together.
The Shakespearean clown Touchstone (Cody Sloan) is playfully there, and he starts by dragging in Rosalind and Celia’s suitcases. That’s a touch.
The professional wrestler Charles (UCSD MFA candidate Taiwo Sokan) asks Oliver to watch out when he fights poor, weak little Orlando. Until something more interesting happens.
And Jaques (Rami Margron), the Shakespearean melancholic, brings attitude.
Rosalind is played with relish by Peter Smith, and Jen Richards’ Celia proves charming and supportive of her cousin.
David Greenspan is effective as Rosalind’s father Duke Senior and as Adam, the court’s loyal elderly former servant.
And we mustn’t forget the shepherds: Phoebe (Alanna Darby), a terrific singer who falls in love with Rosalind but is pursued by a hopelessly smitten shepherd named Silvius (Jess Barbagallo). And the other country characters, goatherd Audrey (See Anzoátegui and country boy William (Allison Husko), who pursues her. And Rachel Crowl plays three roles: the shepherd Corin, the villain Duke Frederick and the bass player in the onstage band.
It’s a busy, crazy time, updated by contemporary pop songs by the likes of Tracy Chapman (“Fast Car”) and Queen (“Somebody to Love Me”).
The technical aspects of the show are simple and effective. Emmie Finckel’s scenic design allows the cast to easily move parts that need to be elsewhere. The forest set is particularly lush with greenery.
Mel Ng’s costumes range from standard male attire to eye-popping drag gowns and Cha See’s lighting highlights the right things at the right times.
Shakespeare is universal, and this production illustrates that updating social norms is one that even the Bard might have enjoyed.
The details
“As You Like It” plays through December 11, 2022 at La Jolla Playhouse’s Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla.
Shows Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.
Tickets: lajollaplayhouse.org or (858) 550-1010
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