"As You Like It"
Shakespeare
Portland Actors Ensemble's
Shakespeare-in-the-Parks, Aug-Sept 2005
Photos by Carole Barkley
My first show with Shakespeare-in-the-Parks, then a 35-year-old tradition in Portland, was "As You Like It," with a splendid cast headed by Amaya Villazan as Rosalind and JR Wickman as Orlando.
I played Rosalind's father, Duke Senior, and doubled as the old shepherd who counsels lovesick Silvius and trades witticisms with Touchstone the Jester. In the photo above, taken shortly before the conclusion, the Duke is remonstrating with Jaques (Paul Susi, in the foreground with the hat and his back mostly to the camera) as he's about to leave the festivities in his usual huff.
Although we traveled to a different park for each of six weekends of shows, both of these photographs were taken by my wife at the Washington Park stop, second weekend of the run, fairly close to where the Holocaust Memorial would be built the following year.
The Portland Actors Ensemble web site has many more wonderful photos from this production, taken at Laurelhurst and Lynchwood Parks, and the campus of Reed College, here.
WHAT THEY SAID
"It isn't nice to pan free theater, but this production -- in the words of the play's melancholic outcast Jaques -- 'sucks eggs.' Director Diane Englert is to blame for asking so little of her generally competent, and in some cases quite talented, cast. JR Wickman, Amaya Villazan and Barry Carroll are among those who could have risen to a challenge. Fortunately, Dan Ruiz Salvatura overcomes his unfortunate lot as a directorless actor and gives two hilarious performances as Le Beau and the amorous Silvius. But Jaques -- a quotable, quizzical character meant to be full of 'humorous sadness' -- lacks any humor whatsoever when played by Paul Susi. It doesn't take an argonaut (read boatload) full of cash to make Shakespeare fresh and accessible, but it does take more insight than Englert has to offer." -- Johanna Droubay, Willamette Week, Aug. 3, 2005
[I've reprinted the entire WW calendar review because its assumption that the director was somehow at fault, its savaging of a fine actor, and its misuse of the word "argonaut" -- which is a human being, not a boat -- made it memorable. When Paul puzzled over the fact that Willamette Week never gave him a positive review, I told him "it's just plain old-fashioned racism." Paul, a mixed Asian and black, laughed and said, "Yeah! It's da MAN keepin' me down!" Evidently reader outcry or the editors' scruples were responsible for toning down the language of the following issue's listing, which merely reproduced the "asks too little of her cast" and "lacks any humor" comments.]
"As people set up camp on blankets, opened coolers, spread snacks, and relaxed on lawn chairs, we asked Janet Kelley, who sat down with her husband, silent Bill, why they came. 'We moved across the street last year, and were delighted to find this is happening in the park. There are so many activities in downtown Portland. It's wonderful to have this show here.' By the time the play began, an audience of at least 100 folks had gathered to see the Bard's best, professionally played by actors who displayed a love of their craft. And, for the next two hours, a portion of Lynchwood Park became a natural Shakespearean stage." -- David Ashton, East County [Gresham] News, Sept 2005
"Shakespeare-in-the-Parks collected $1,527 from the more than 1,200 people who came to three performances at Reed College last weekend. Portland Actors Ensemble will donate the money to Northwest Medical Teams [for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief]." -- The Oregonian, Sept. 11, 2005, p. A14