INTERVIEW: This particular ‘As You Like It’ is set to folk rock, amidst the Catskills
Photo: Catskill Mountain Shakespeare has had a number of successful productions over the years, including Twelfth Night in 2021. Photo courtesy of Catskill Mountain Shakespeare / Provided by press rep with permission.
When it’s summertime, theatergoers often venture outdoors to enjoy various artistic offerings, with many of them penned by William Shakespeare. It’s a time-honored tradition to present the Bard’s words in surroundings that are unlike the prosceniums and thrusts of the indoor world. Case in point: Catskill Mountain Shakespeare is readying a new production of As You Like It, set to folk rock and playing the Red Barn in Hunter, New York. One cannot think of a better environment to experience Shakespeare than the bucolic hills of the Catskill Mountains, located a short distance north of New York City.
The Sydney Berk-directed show plays under a tent, with most performances commencing at 7:30 p.m., just as the sun is setting and the tranquility of the Hudson Valley comes alive. For this version of As You Like It, 13 performers are tasked with bringing Shakespeare’s words to life, according to press notes. They will double as musicians, adding songs to the narrative by David Bowie, The Cure, Tom Petty and Johnny Cash, among others.
Performances start July 14 and continue for three weekends until July 30. Visitors can also enjoy a selection of corresponding events, including an LGBTQ+ social, an artist mixer, and workshops for children and teenagers.
To learn more about the production, Hollywood Soapbox recently exchanged emails with Sarah Reny, artistic director of Catskill Mountain Shakespeare. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What inspired the selection of As You Like It for this summer’s offering?
As You Like — it is a story of those who find refuge and wonder in the forest of Arden. They find freedom to be themselves, explore new walks of life and escape the strict confines of the “envious court.” Over the last few years, a similar shift has occurred here in the Catskills with the massive influx of people calling the region “home.” Naturally, this creates a melding of worlds, values and cultures. To see that experience mirrored on stage, we hope our wider audience can see themselves within the characters and journeys represented on the stage, whether they’ve been living here in the Catskills for generations or just recently arrived.
How will Catskill Mountain Shakespeare’s production of As You Like It be unique?
We at Catskill Mountain Shakes have made a name for ourselves by throwing out many of the rules that define “traditional” Shakespeare — gender, age, costuming and music (just to name a few)! We tend towards the highly theatrical, embodied performances and very clear storytelling targeted toward our specific audience. I think the thing that is most unique about As You Like It specifically will be the director’s musical choices, including music by David Bowie, Tom Petty, The Cure, Johnny Cash and more, and how those deepen the play.
What does Sydney Berk bring to the project as director?
Sydney Berk was the perfect choice for Catskill Mountain Shakes this year because she encapsulates our specific values. She has been involved with the company since its inception, developing a deep understanding and love for the area. In addition, she is rigorous with her text work, has high expectations of the actors and creative team, and a deep understanding of how to tell this story in this place. She also is willing to play and make creative choices, and is constantly looking for opportunities to surprise those in the audience who know the show well in a way that feels natural to those who are experiencing it for the first time.
A couple years into Catskill Mountain Shakespeare’s existence, how are things going?
We have been incredibly lucky. Things are going really well. We have grown our team, our budget and our infrastructure (thanks in part to the support of the Catskill Mountain Foundation). I think a huge factor in our success has been consistently prioritizing the community and trying to eliminate as many barriers to entry as possible. We are very aware that there is a large wealth disparity, people travel from far and wide, and that things like child care can be hard to come by. Those things have helped shape our Outreach Program to serve this specific community year after year.
Does the work of Shakespeare still speak to society in 2023?
Yes! I believe wholeheartedly that it does. And what a wonderful thing! For hundreds of years, people have been leaving the city in search of space and freedom in the country, and that movement had affected those who had always called the forest home (for better and for worse). And here we are in 2023, and that’s still happening! Also being silly in love, sex jokes and making a fool of yourself are a few of the eternal wonders we find in this play that absolutely still speak true to our current lives.
What are the opportunities and challenges of performing outdoors under a tent?
The opportunities are vast and, in my mind, greatly outnumber the challenges. To perform a play about nature in nature helps root a text that can sometimes feel really daunting and separate from our current lives. It helps when someone is talking about a tree or a mountain, and there is one right there! In terms of challenges, there are two main ones that come to mind: mosquitos and accessibility. The mosquitos are a nuisance that we have been able to partially combat by offering complimentary bug spray everywhere and to everyone. Accessibility is a challenge we are still working to overcome — namely creating more accessible options for all while still performing in a rugged, natural environment. These are problems that are not necessarily unique to us and are true of all outdoor theater companies. We are constantly thinking about how we can make our performances more accessible while still immersing ourselves in the beauty and nature that surrounds us to make Catskill Mountain Shakespeare what it is.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Catskill Mountain Shakespeare presents As You Like It, July 14-30, at the Red Barn in Hunter, New York. Click here for more information and tickets.
