Audience members at a recent performance of the American Players Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's "As You Like It" were treated by a wide range of weather, but as the bard once intoned, "all's well that ends well."
So, despite spending the pre-intermission acts unprotected under a scorching sun and the second half in the light rain that began to fall during intermission, APT's 2.5-hour performance was worth it all.
If you've never been to Spring Green to take in an APT performance, you're missing out on some of the best productions in the state. APT's season began on June 9 and runs into the first week of October. Among the works being staged in rotating repertory are Shakespeare's "Richard II" and "All's Well That Ends Well," Jean Anouilh's "Ring Round the Moon" and Anton Chekov's "Uncle Vanya."
Despite a fairly overwrought Hollywood-esque ending "As You Like It," directed by Jonathan Smoots, succeeds thanks to the APT's cast's ability to deftly navigate the almost plot-less comedy and help a crowd of 21st century Wisconsinites comprehend and enjoy the oft-opaque Shakespearean English.
Orlando de Boys (Anthony Giangrande) quits the estate of his elder brother Oliver (John Phillips) after quarrelling about Oliver's failing to raise his brother in the manner which his father, Sir Rowland de Boys, specified in his will.
The slight Orlando takes on the hulking wrestler Charles (David Daniel) and, when he wins, he finds fleeting favor with Duke Frederick (D. Lance Marsh), who has usurped his brother's dominion and sent the Duke Senior (Jonathan Gillard Daly) to roam the forest. When Frederick learns of Orlando's parentage he sends him away. Frederick, you see, didn't like Sir Rowland.
Before he leaves, he meets Frederick's daughter Celia (Colleen Madden) and falls in love with her cousin, Rosalind (Carolyn Vujcec), daughter of the exiled duke, who has been allowed to stay at court to keep her cousin company.
But now Duke Frederick, fearing the love that his subjects feel for Rosalind, exiles her under penalty of death. She and her cousin decide to escape under false names -- and Rosalind in the guise of a man. They take court jester Touchstone (James Ridge) with them.
Of course, all of these folks are roaming the same forest and ultimately meet up and that's where the laughs really begin.
As the characters debate love, life and other philosophical notions, everything and everyone edges closer to the climax.
While Giangrande is the perfect hyper, neurotic and devoted lover, Vujcec is perfectly beguiling as she puts Orlando through a series of tests designed to gauge the depth of his love for Rosalind.
Ridge is a cast standout and obvious audience favorite as the lanky Touchstone, who meets Audrey (Carolyn Hoerdemann), a cartoonish goatherd. Their amorous romping keeps the show vibrant and, of course, ripe with innuendo.
The setting, in an actual forest clearing, couldn't be better. APT has become the second largest outdoor classical theatre in the country and it's easy to see why. From entry to exit, APT creates a wonderful experience.
For information on the company, productions, performances and more, visit American Players Theatre's Web site.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
