Shakespeare in the Parks: As You
Like It Features Excellent Acting

Shakespeare in the Parks: As You Like It stars (from left) Ali Patalano as Phebe, Bryan Squires as Silvius, Udaya Vakati as Celia, Mark
Filiaci as Duke Senior, Hannah LaMarlowe as Rosalind, Dylan Atwood as Jaques, and Reid Cater as Orlando (photo by James Rippe)

Switch Theatre Co.'s 90-minute production of Shakespeare in the Parks: As You Like It is well suited for outdoor performances, because much of the play is set in the Forest of Arden. And just as Duke Senior (Mark Filiaci) takes refuge in the forest, banished as he is from his rightful dukedom by his angry and dictatorial brother Duke Frederick (Thom Haynes), so might you, the audience, find particular joy in experiencing live theater in the outdoors this spring, away from screens and electronic devices and the mercurial tendencies of certain individuals presented on them.

Directed by Gwendolyn Schwinke, this production features Hannah LaMarlowe (Rosalind), Udaya Vakati (Celia), Reid Cater (Orlando), Mark Filiaci (Duke Senior), Bryan Squires (Silvius/Charles), Ali Patalano (Phebe), Gus Hummings (Touchstone), Dylan Atwood (Jaques), Lydia Sayers (Amiens), Phillip Andrew Solano (Oliver), and Thom Haynes (Frederick).

As You Like It stars Hannah LaMarlowe (left) as Rosalind and Udaya Vakati as Celia (photo by James Rippe)

This production can be commended for the excellent acting all around, with a few standouts. Reid Cater brings a charming and likable Orlando to life. You can see why his brother is jealous! Together, Hannah LaMarlowe as Rosalind and Udaya Vakati as Celia are a delightful duo as cousins and besties. Bryan Squires displays nice comedic timing as both Silvius and Charles, Mark Filiaci makes an excellent Duke Senior, and Gus Hummings hams it up as Touchstone.

The play begins with a wordless introduction, in which the actors helpfully walk through the convoluted plot typical of Shakespearean comedies. The costumes by Tommie Gervase are effective, especially Celia and Rosalind's dresses and disguises. The fight between Charles and Orlando is nicely choreographed (by Montgomery Davis) and performed; it is both humorous and scary to watch.

Shakespeare in the Parks: As You Like It, directed by Gwendolyn Schwinke, stars (from left) Ali Patalano as Phebe, Bryan Squires
as Silvius, Hannah LaMarlowe as Rosalind, Mark Filiaci as Duke Senior, and Reid Cater as Orlando (photo by James Rippe)

Isa Payne's minimal set design consists of a backdrop, two rotating pylons that frame the action and indicate the location of the scene, a trunk containing props and costumes, and two wooden boxes that sometimes function as stools (maybe these are moved around a few too many times by the actors without obvious reason).

Frank Meadows' sound design includes traditional local music in the interstitials between scenes and during the square dancing at the play's conclusion, adding a North Carolina flavor to the play. Duke Senior, Amiens, and Jaques also sing a song together, with Duke Senior on guitar and Amiens playing the mandolin. The vocal harmonies could be a bit tighter, but the playing is nicely done. Other than a few hiccups with the wireless microphones, the sound quality, always tricky outdoors, is very good.

As You Like It stars Phillip Andrew Solano (left) as Oliver and Thom Haynes as Duke Frederick (photo by James Rippe)

Shakespeare in the Parks: As You Like It is presented FREE to the public (a limited number of VIP seats are available for $25). The runs in Chapel Hill and Cary have concluded; but you can still catch this very enjoyable show in Durham, Raleigh, and Knightdale. There will also be live music, starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 9th, and Saturday, May 16th.

As You Like It stars (from left) Lydia Sayers as Amiens, Mark Filiaci as Duke Senior, and Dylan Atwood as Jaques (photo by James Rippe)

Shakespeare in the Parks: AS YOU LIKE IT (In Person 6 p.m. Saturday, May 9th, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10th, at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701; 6 p.m. Saturday, May 16th, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17th, at Fred Fletcher Amphitheater, 820 Clay St., Raleigh, NC 27605; and 6 p.m. Saturday, May 30th, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31st, at Knightdale Station Park, 810 N. First Ave., Knightdale, NC 27545), directed by Gwendolyn Schwinke and starring Hannah LaMarlowe as Rosalind, Udaya Vakati as Celia, Reid Cater as Orlando, Mark Filiaci as Duke Senior, Bryan Squires as Silvius/Charles, Ali Patalano as Phebe, Gus Hummings as Touchstone, Dylan Atwood as Jaques, Lydia Sayers as Amiens/female swing, Phillip Andrew Solano as Oliver, and Thom Haynes as Duke Frederick (Switch Theatre Co. at various locations). STC VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/@switchtheatreco. PRESENTER: https://switchtheatreco.org/, https://linktr.ee/switchtheatreco, https://www.facebook.com/switchtheatreco, https://www.instagram.com/switchtheatreco, https://bsky.app/profile/switchtheatreco.org, and https://www.youtube.com/@switchtheatreco. AS YOU LIKE IT (five-act pastoral comedy, written and first performed c. 1598-1600): https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/as-you-like-it/, https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-plays/as-you-like-it/, https://www.britannica.com/topic/As-You-Like-It, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_You_Like_It. THE SCRIPT: . STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): https://www.bard.org/. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Elizabethan and Jacobean English playwright and poet, 1564-1616): https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/25200, https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-life/, https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeare-biography/, https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/william-shakespeare, https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare. TICKETS: FREE general admission (reservations recommended) and $25 VIP reserved seating, plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-926-9906 or info@switchtheatreco.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: Switch Theatre Co..

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