Our school is currently putting on a play by Shakespeare that most of you should know, “As You Like It”. This is one of Shakespeare’s earlier plays and a very funny one I might add. If your stuck and have no idea what I’m talking, you can go to a site that can fill you in on all the info about this play. I suggest going to see this play whenever you see a theater group putting it on. Our school’s production had me doubled over with laughter. As an English major I mostly just read Shakespeare and never really get a chance to experience the “real time action” of the play. Reading this play is very boring to me, but watching a production of it is way different. Especially when you have a nutty bunch of students (like our school has) doing the play.
Having prior knowledge of the plot and symbols of the play, I mostly watched for enjoyment. I don’t know if I would have liked this play as much if I hadn’t read it before because I could see people getting lost. Heck at points the actors’ actions told more of the plot then the actual dialogue. Which brings me to my point. You see a friend of mine who was also at the show turned to me at a point and said that he had no idea what was really going on in the plot, but he still thought it was funny. Plays (especially Shakespearean) are much better to watch then to read, I think at least. Seeing the characters emotions portrayed on the actors faces and watching their actions makes the whole story much clearer and more vivid to the viewer. I found another school on the web that also did a production of “As You Like It” last year. The site says they do it purely for fun and always do Shakespeare comedies. Broadway shows and all plays seem much more appealing to the populous live then reading the script.
Reading the script though should not be neglected. Lots of important items can be missed while watching a play and only through critically reading a play can one understand the symbols, metaphors, and religious connotations. For example the Christian symbols and parodies can easily be missed in “As You Like It” Act 1. Also the importance of the Fool can’t be realized until you take a read through the play. Shakespeare has always used jesters to make important points in his plays, but while I was watching the production I only laughed at the Fool’s jokes, actions, and rude behavior. I think another reason I was more concerned with the entertaining part of the play was because I have friends in it so my judgment and view are quiet different then others. Rock on Ed, Kelly, and Kelly :)
In my surfing of the web I came across a really beautiful painting of “As You Like It.” It depicts the main characters and I thought it was a great piece of artwork. Then I realized it was a puzzle ;P
Now that picture may be a real painting, but am I the only one put off by the fact that this excellent piece of art so elegantly done…is a puzzle?
Oh and just incase I forgot to mention this (which I think I did) you should all go see the play at Seton Hill University and laugh along with us. Okay bye.
