The Swan at WYUKA Presents
Shakespeare's As You Like It

(Lincoln, Nebraska) - The Swan at WYUKA presents William Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT Thursdays through Sundays June 5 - 8, 12 - 15, and 19 - 22 at 7:00 p.m. at The Swan, WYUKA Cemetery, 3600 O Street. Tickets are $15, $10 for senior citizens, and $8 students with an ID/youth. For more information and for reservations, contact WYUKA at 474-3600.

AS YOU LIKE IT is one of Shakespeare's best-loved romantic comedies. It revolves around Oliver and Orlando, two brothers who begin the play with a passionate exchange about mishandled inheritance. Just as Oliver declares his intention to do away with his brother, a messenger arrives from Court announcing that Duke Senior has been banished to Arden Forest by his usurping brother, the new duke, Frederick. Rosalind, the former duke's daughter, has decided to stay at Court with her beloved cousin Celia, Duke Frederick's daughter. A play of passion, romance, and disguise, Rosalind and Orlando fall in love at first sight during a wrestling match, but, alas, Rosalind is also banished by Duke Frederick. Rosalind, disguised as the young shepherd Ganymede, is accompanied to the forest by Celia, disguised as Ganymede's sister Aliena. Orlando follows them into the forest. The Duke sends Oliver after his brother. The game of love is practiced and tested in the forest until true identities are revealed and all is resolved.

Associate Director Stephen Buhler says that the play shows Shakespeare's fascination with ideas about romantic love, especially love at first sight: "Shakespeare's contemporary Christopher Marlowe wrote a poem, Hero and Leander, that includes the famous question 'Whoever loved who loved not at first sight?' In As You Like It, one character directly quotes Marlowe's line, right after she has experienced a powerful, immediate attraction to the play's heroine--who just happens to be disguised as a boy at the time. Shakespeare has great fun with several passionate attractions, loving and lustful, but a big part of the fun arises from how seriously and completely his characters immerse themselves in their feelings for each other."

Bob Hall's direction respects the play's deep emotions along with its humor, Buhler notes: "The comic complications and split-second changes of heart are hilarious to observe, but feel like life-and-death matters to the characters involved. Bob knows how to deliver both crucial aspects of the Shakespearean vision because he understands the text and understands actors--even as he keeps learning more and more about them."

As You Like It Principal Players are Susanne Evans Mostafa as Rosalind (sometimes disguised as Ganymede), John Marinovich as Orlando, Kelly Maybury as Celia (sometimes disguised as Aliena), and Fred Stuart as Oliver. Dick Nielsen plays Touchstone, the jester and Margy Ryan is Touchstone's object of affection. Richard Endacott is Duke Frederick and Stephen Buhler is Duke Senior. Other cast members include: Cynthia Artz as Phebe, Lawrence Mota as Silvius, Brad Boesen as Jaques, Mark Baldridge as Amiens, Gary Hall as Corin, Matt Hansen as Le Beau and William, Jon Appleget as Charles the Wrestler, and Richard Imig as Adam. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants are Alyssa Fiala, Becki Learned, Buddy Maixner, and Michael Medwick.

Bob Hall directs the production. Michelle Zinke is the Stage Manager, and Stephen Buhler the Associate Director. Richard Imig designs the Sets, Janice Stauffer designs Costumes and Richard Schroeder designs Lights. Mark Baldridge supervises Music, with Sean Strough as the Production Manager, and Jeff Spence as the Production Assistant.