John Oketch as  
"Touchstone," 
the court jester.  

 
"Jacques" (Pat Wynne - left) watches cynically 
as "Ameins" (Brandon Sykora - right) speaks.

UMC Students to Perform Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” Jan. 16-18

The UMC Music and Theater Department will present the comedy “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, January 16, 17, and 18.   On all three nights the play will be presented as a dinner theater starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Bede Ballroom on the UMC campus.  Reservations are required and may be made by calling George French, Associate Professor of Music and Theater, at 218-281-8266.  

The cost for the steak or shrimp meal and show is $15 per person.  Thanks to financial assistances from the UMC Concerts and Lectures Committee, UMC students who are willing to "double-swipe" their meal cards (since the meal cost is $11) can make a reservation by calling 218-281-8266 and attend the performance for FREE.  Students not on a campus meal plan or who are unwilling to double-swipe will pay $7.50 for the dinner and show.

According to French, “In contrast to the great tragedies written by Shakespeare, this particular play is the result of a combination of circumstances in which the characters live on their own resources, developing a pleasant atmosphere where tragedy loses its sting and grooms the mind to happy patience, goodwill, and solitude.”  At the final epilogue, all conflicts have been resolved and the audience is encouraged to resolve all of their personal conflicts as well.

The production is being co-directed by UMC students Rachel Sundbohm of Clearbrook and Kelly Bisek of Mahnomen.

Kelly Bisek will also perform in the play.  He is cast as Orlando, a young Englishman who is noble and pure of heart.  He attaches love poems addressed to Rosalind, the leading the lady, on all the trees, and he and Rosalind are finally united and wed.

Other cast members include:

Kristie Schill from Langdon, North Dakota, will play Rosalind, the leading female character, who runs away from her noble home to live the life of a simple peasant woman in “the forest of Arden.”

Anders Berggren, an information technology management major from Strandquist, is cast as Adam, the faithful old servant who serves the noble characters of the play and warns them of dangers from within the family.

Scott Maus, a business management major from Osakis, plays Dennis, a servant who works for one of the prominent characters in the play.

Liza Peterson, an information technology management major from Fosston, will play Celia, another of the leading characters.  Celia is a young idealistic woman of noble upbringing who follows her friend Rosalind to live the life of a country peasant.

John Oketch from Fridley plays the character Touchstone, the court clown who is one of Shakespeare’s greatest “fools.” Yet he is very realistic in his philosophy, and he serves as a norm by which the audience can view the other characters.

Brent Steinmetz, an agricultural business major from Mahnomen, is cast as Le Beau, the man about town who speaks well but knows little.  His speech, dress, and mannerisms are all satirized in the play.

Tim Gerla from Climax will play the Duke Frederick.  The Duke is the villain of this comedy.  He banishes his elder brother and his brother’s daughter, but is miraculously converted by a religious hermit and chooses to lead a monastic life in the forest.

Brandon Sykora, a natural resources major from Browns Valley, plays Amiens, a lord attending one of the noble characters and who sings some of the most beautiful lyrics that Shakespeare ever wrote.

Pat Wynne, an information technology management major from Wannaska, will portray Jaques.  Jaques is a man of the world who believes his ideas are terribly profound when actually they are very shallow and generalized.  He is satirized by almost every other character with whom he holds “deep” discussions.

Samantha Lukas from Embarrass plays a simple country woman named Audrey, who serves as a contrast to the “town” characters.

Heather Aadland, an equine industries management major from Prior Lake, is cast as Phebe.  Her character rejects the love of the man who loves her while he suffers from the woes of “love-sickness,” and then ends up marrying him at the end anyway.

Amy Lampi, an equine industries management major from Duluth is the “Singer.”  She will sing some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written by Shakespeare.

Greg Habeck, an information technology management major from Ada, plays the parts of Charles, the wrestler, who, by the way, does not win his match.  He also plays the part of Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar who is “not too knowledgeable.”  

Nathan Hoff, a business management major from Ada, plays the part of William, “a stock country character” who falls in love with the character Audrey.  Hoff will also play the part of a forester.

Disability accommodations are available upon request.  Contact the UMC Music and Theater Department at 218-281- 8266 for more information.  

 

Posted  01/10/2002
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435

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