July 24, 2002
All the world's a noisy stage for Shakespeare play
Riverside Shakespeare production of 'As You Like It' creates outside challenges for actors
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
While William Shakespeare never had to contend with airplanes, Harleys and sirens, members of Riverside Shakespeare wrestled with city noises during their outdoor performances of "As You Like It" this weekend at Hannah Park.
As audience members reclined in lawn chairs or on blankets, many arriving at the performance via bicycle or on foot, the actors wove their tale of love and betrayal occasionally raising their voices over the background noises.
For the third year, Shakespeare in the Park has brought the Bard to life in his traditional outdoor setting, where the action, dialogue and costumes are fashioned to compete with a variety of distractions.
"It's just so Traverse City there, with kayakers sitting on the edge of the river watching and Harley's revving their engines up Union Street," said Jill Beauchamp, a co-founder of Riverside Shakespeare who played Jaques in the play. "Certain unpredictable things happen, like planes flying over, and people riding by on their bikes stop to watch. We've had wedding parties in the park before."
"Being in the park is a symbol of what we're trying to accomplish: make this accessible to everyone," she noted.
For the two dozen actors in the play, the outdoor setting is a welcome vacation from a more serious stage setting.
"The outdoor venue gives the actors a unique opportunity to break out of the 'stage' and all of the rules that go with it," said T.J. Berden, who is in his third year with the company. "It lets us experiment with our art."
Bill Kuehlhorn, who relished his role as an evil duke in the play, said the outdoor presentation was both more informal and more authentic.
"In a way, I was at the Globe Theater," he said, referring to the theater in England where Shakespeare's works were originally staged. "They had this outdoor venue and had to speak really loudly to be heard."
Director Phil Murphy decided early on to set this play in the 60s, much to the delight of the audience who loved the outrageous clothes and the fitting snippets of songs sprinkled throughout. His Summer of Love setting and use of love beads, granny dresses and bell-bottoms was inspired by a very practical concern:
"I kept thinking how can we do this outside with out having the actors die of heat exhaustion in Renaissance clothes," said the veteran Old Town Playhouse director.
Then again, he believes the theme and spirit of "As You Like It" lent itself to a 60s setting.
"The nature of this play is dealing with the oppressive city and the pastoral country and everybody falling in love," said Murphy, who discovered this adaptation when researching the play. "I thought, 'Hey, I know when to place this, I lived through the 60s.'¡"
Beauchamp and Brian Dungjen founded Riverside Shakespeare in 2000. Beauchamp noted that the company has received great support from the City and Ann Hoopfer, director of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, from the beginning. Their support has allowed the shows to go on year after year.
The company has experimented with a variety of times for their outdoors shows. After moving from 2 p.m. the first year to 4 p.m. last year, Beauchamp said that this year's 6 p.m. time provides the most shade and cooler temperatures - important to both actors and the audience.
Producing the play is a year-long endeavor, as Beauchamp, Dungjen and others are already considering next year's play. They pick the play and director by fall and meet sporadically through the winter. After auditions in April, rehearsals get started in May, with outdoor ones starting in June in the Park.
As chairs and blankets bloomed in the park Sunday evening, filled with picnickers waiting for the play, Beauchamp said she is happy that the company is developing a real following. Attendance is running around 100 per play and with the park's unlimited seating capacity, the sky is the limit.
"What we're finding is that 90 percent of the people have been here before," said Beauchamp. "That following will grow."
The next performances of "As You Like It" will be Friday, August 2, and Sunday, August 4, at Hannah Park next to the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. Both performances begin at 6 p.m. and are free.