NEC Theatre Group Presents Shakespeare's "As You Like It"

The Open Door Theatre at New England College presents a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It July 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and July 18 at 3:00 p.m. All performances will be held in the Mainstage Theatre in the Science Building on Depot Hill Road in Henniker. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students, and may be reserved by calling 603-428-2382 or by email at nectheatre@nec.edu.

Although faithful to Shakespeare’s text, the Open Door Theatre’s production moves the action from the 16th century court to the Greenwood Development Corporation in the mid-1930s. Ousted in a hostile takeover by his brother, the former Greenwood CEO, Duke, and his followers flee to a secluded forest leaving behind Duke’s daughter Rosalind. Orlando, who has been repeatedly passed over for promotion at the corporation, organizes a wrestling match to decide his fate. At the match, Rosalind and Orlando fall in love but are forced to flee to the forest separately to escape a plot by Orlando’s brother. Rosalind, now disguised as a boy, encounters Orlando in the forest posting dreadful love poems on every tree. Taking advantage of her disguise, Rosalind schools Orlando about the nature of love. In classic Shakespearean style, As You Like It features charming fools and evil brothers, mistaken identity, gender bending, and a romantic plot so tangled that only a woman with Rosalind’s wit can resolve it.

The contemporary adaptation by Don Melander, senior professor at NEC, is presented in the style of the great Hollywood screwball comedies of the 1930s and is flavored with the music of Cole Porter and Noel Coward. The production is directed by Glenn Stuart with an ensemble made up of current students, alumni, and associates of the New England College Department of Theatre. Cast members include Alex Picard, Michael Tucker, Greg Stuart, Jennie Leonard, Russ Rattray, Nancy Brennan, Kevin Guimond, Elise Hinton, Ian Allan, and Rachel Buck.