WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S as You like It

Featuring the talent of 44 students from the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences and Education, the cast and crew have rehearsed for three months to bring the play to the Burapha University stage. The production features adaptations of songs and dances from the North, South Central, and Northeast (‘Isaan’) regions with a variety of scenes to delight both English and Thai language speakers.

“All the World’s a Stage…,” the melancholy clown, Jacques (Tong) reminds us in one of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches.

Disguised as a boy, one of Shakespeare’s cleverest female characters, the princess Rosalind (played by English language major, Noynae), flees the palace to hide in the Forest of Love, which in this production is inspired by Thailand’s mythical “Himaphan Forest.” There she meets up with “Kinnaree” dancing bird women, happy and sad clowns, funny farmers and the man of her dreams, Orlando (English language major, Ard). Her problem? She is disguised as a boy!

Everyone falls under the spell of the Forest of Love in this play. Audiences will enjoy the many comic characters including the wicked Duke Fred (Putt) who banishes the kind Queen (Kaimook) and all the women to the Forest. The scornful dancer Phebe (Bonnie) is pursued by the young shepherd Silvius (Bowling) but has fallen in love with ‘Ganymede’ who is actually Rosalind disguised as a boy. Touchstone (Too), the witty court clown, meets the girl (or is it a boy?) he wants to marry in the shy but hilarious country girl, Audrey. Rosalind’s clever cousin Celia finds true love with her Oliver. City and country are united under the blessings of the Goddess of Love in spectacular marriage at the end of the play.

Five members of the Directing Team – Da, Fai, Jumping, Looktarn, and May -- lead the Company, which includes many students destined to become teachers of English language throughout Thailand.

The company has studied Shakespeare and theatre production with the support of Burapha University Drama and English teachers: Australian Steven Bodley, known for his expertise in Thai language and culture, and American Teviot Fairserv is, former theatre professor at Long Island University (C.W. Post) in New York and for 30 years artistic director of the international touring East- West Fusion Theatre in the U.S.A.

For reservations or further information, contact: Teviot Fairserv is by email at teviothome@yahoo.com or by phone at 083 327 0847.