'As You Like It' with a Beatles Twist: A Groovy Good Time Awaits

Doubts about the Shakespeare Theatre Company's rendition of "As You Like It" set in the 1960s and infused with Beatles hits are decisively dispelled within moments of director Daryl Cloran's lively interpretation, particularly in a wrestling ring scene.

The cast of “As You Like It” at the Shakespeare Theatre Company

The romantic protagonist, Orlando (Jeff Irving), engages in a wrestling match with a formidable opponent (Marco Walker-Ng). During this intense moment, Orlando and Rosalind (Chelsea Rose) share a significant glance, prompting a pause in the action. The motormouthed commentator, Touchstone (Kayvon Khoshkam), breaks into a rendition of the Beatles' 1963 chart-topper "She Loves You."

This carefully orchestrated blend of chaos unfolds as one of the most remarkable musical numbers on the D.C. stage this year, with time seemingly freezing and resuming, expressions of infatuation exchanged, and the wrestling match concluding with a dramatic flourish.

Approximately two dozen songs from the Beatles' discography are cleverly integrated into this captivating fusion of a jukebox musical, Elizabethan prose, and anachronistic humor. Conceived by Christopher Gaze and Cloran for the 2018 Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vancouver, B.C., the production has garnered acclaim in Chicago and Milwaukee. The predominantly Canadian cast, many of whom return for this performance, delivers a delightful combination of song and slapstick to entertain D.C. audiences.

A piece of advice for the savvy theatergoer: Arrive early at Harman Hall, as the pro wrestling parody kicks off a few minutes before the curtain rises, treating the audience to a delightfully campy series of undercard bouts. Crafted by Khoshkam and choreographed by Jonathan Hawley Purvis, this pre-show sets an entertaining tone.

Subsequently, director Daryl Cloran's cleverly condensed adaptation of Shakespeare's pastoral comedy ventures into more familiar terrain: Rosalind, banished due to familial power struggles, adopts a male disguise and escapes to the forest of Arden. Here, she once again encounters Orlando, who is on the run from his resentful brother (Matthew MacDonald-Bain), leading to a cascade of sexual tension and comedic misunderstandings.

The “As You Like It” cast performs the songs of the Beatles

The innocence of puppy love takes center stage, underscored by the joyful songbook of the Beatles and the peace-and-love ethos of an Arden transformed into a hippie commune. Far from being a distraction from Shakespeare's language, the omnipresent tunes, including "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Here Comes the Sun," and "Across the Universe," serve as a kind of Rosetta Stone, resonating with meaning and emotion that remarkably align with the text.

An inspired choice is turning Orlando's love letters to Rosalind into the lyrics of "Eight Days a Week." Similarly, the rendition of "Something" by another of the play's couples, the snobbish Phoebe (Alexandra Lainfiesta) and the love-struck Silvius (Ben Elliott, who also serves as the music director), is delivered with vaudevillian virtuosity. While not every performer possesses a classically trained voice, the cast compensates with wholehearted comedic commitment.

In the role of Touchstone, the clownish companion to Rosalind and her devoted friend Celia (played charmingly by Naomi Ngebulana), Khoshkam consistently earns laughter. Adorned in a flashy striped suit, sparkling platform heels, and a variety of Elton John-esque statement glasses, this rendition of Touchstone fearlessly breaks the fourth wall and repeatedly taps into comedic gold (quite literally, as one recurring gag involves drinking from a murky pool of water).

When Touchstone encounters his equally eccentric match in Audrey (Emma Slipp), their handsy antics, coupled with a rendition of "When I'm Sixty-Four," lead to an animalistic mating ritual that amuses the audience through their unwavering commitment to the comedic moment.

Kayvon Khoshkam and Emma Slipp play Touchstone and Audrey in “As You Like It”

Portraying Rosalind as a flirtatious firecracker, Chelsea Rose captivates with a series of quirky interpretations and reactions. Jeff Irving, as the sweet but occasionally tongue-tied Orlando, perfectly embodies a love-stricken goof. Andrew Cownden exudes cynicism in his portrayal of Jaques, an inhabitant of Arden, leading captivating renditions of "I Am the Walrus" and "The Fool on the Hill." Additionally, he delivers the famous Seven Ages of Man speech with sly wit.

These antics unfold within the backdrop of Pam Johnson's two-tiered set, featuring expressionistic backdrops framed by three sets of psychedelically lit panels (skillfully overseen by Gerald King's vibrant lighting). Costume designer Carmen Alatorre embraces a gleeful assignment, creating looks ranging from skimpy wrestling attire to flowing hippie outfits. Meanwhile, a group of actor-musicians adds to the groovy atmosphere, having a good time rocking out on stage.

Undoubtedly, the incorporation of rock music and the broadly comedic approach may not sit well with Shakespeare purists. However, the ironic reality is that this counterculture twist makes "As You Like It" more accessible than ever.