Enjoying the breeze while relaxing was not a problem at Meridian Township’s live production of Sunsets with Shakespeare’s July 4th opening. The vast amount of grass and trees along with a free-spirited live show provided a calmness rare for the patriotic holiday known for it’s explosives.
The production of “As You Like It” was held at the Nancy L. Moore park in Okemos. The free play ran from July 4-7 and continues Tuesday, finishing up Sunday.
While downtown Lansing was congested with bicyclist, motorist and pedestrians looking for entertainment, Meridian Township took a calm, relaxed approach to celebrating the first July 4th since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In the past four years, Meridian residents have enjoyed the summer with theatrical entertainment, but this year provided fireworks and grilling goodies all in the same place.
As people emerged from their cars with blankets, food and kids, the sun was bright and smells lingered from grills.
Once everyone was seated and comfortable, director Todd Heywood thanked the audience for attending and made a few comments.
“Don’t be surprised if the cast comes into the audience and shares your food with you,” he said with a laugh. But little did the audience know, he was serious.
The play featured 6-year-old Quin Mahoney. who provided plenty of laughs by running away with audience members’ food.
“As You Like It” was performed in a small clearing among the trees. The stage area included side entrances covered and separated by trees allowing the cast to flow in and out and into the audience.
The play starts with Orlando (Rob Huber) grapling Charles, the Duke’s wrestler (Elaine Yaw). Orlando wins the match and the heart of Rosalind (Ben Snyder).
The atmosphere and the humor of the play overshadowed any dilemnas in performance. Sure everyone knew it was a guy playing a girl playing a guy. But no one seemed to care or notice, instead they enjoyed a solid performance by a young, energetic cast.
“I really enjoyed the play it was humorous,” East Lansing resident Joanne Weidig said. “I also like the fact that it’s all in one place. When the show is over I’m going to enjoy the fireworks out here.”
The story continued with Rosalind being banished by Duke Frederick into the forest and her cousin, the Duke’s daughter Celia, decides she shall join Rosalind to live in the forest. After reaching the forest Rosalind decides to live in exile as a boy called Ganymede.
While Orlando has somehow befriended the Duke, who allows him to write love poetry, Ganymede/Rosalind and Celia find Orlando’s poetry all over the forest and notice it’s dedicated to Rosalind. Orlando meets up with Ganymede/Rosalind, who agrees to cure Orlando of his love. Ganymede asked Orlando to call him Rosalind and profess his love unto her.
Huber and Snyder both are talented young actors. They completely made people forget that they were enjoying Shakespeare. But the highlights were when Kelly Stuible, who played Amiens, performed some of her Shakespeare lines in a hip-hop fashion.
Terri Hanton, who played Jacqueline, said this was her first time acting in a play. She did a great job projecting her voice over the sometimes noisy park.
Hanton, whose daughter and two sons were in the play, led her scenes with energy and charisma. She would walk into the audience to create a good interaction among the cast and the crowd.
The play proved to be an experience in which the audience and performers created an invigorating experience on the holiday.
