Modesto Bee Logo

Comedy's full of nice touches | Modesto Bee

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Buy Photos
    • Submit a Photo
    • Search Archives

    • News
    • Politics
    • Local News
    • Crime
    • Bee Investigator
    • Education
    • Turlock
    • Oakdale
    • California News
    • Nation & World
    • Scott Peterson Case
    • Local Sports
    • Sports
    • High School
    • High School Football
    • High School Athletes
    • College
    • Outdoors
    • Camps, clinics listings
    • Pro Sports
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • Giants
    • A's
    • 49ers
    • Raiders
    • NBA
    • Politics
    • The California Influencer Series
    • Business
    • Biz Beat
    • Agriculture
    • Employment News
    • Real Estate
    • Living
    • Celebrations
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Worship Directory
    • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV News
    • Contests
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Modesto Bee Rewards
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Influencers Opinion
    • National Issues
    • State Issues
    • Submit a Letter
    • Mike Dunbar
    • Community Voices
    • Obituaries
    • View Obituaries
    • Place Obituary Ad

    • dealsaver
    • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
    • Pets
    • Garage Sales
    • Real Estate
    • Apartment and Rentals
    • Jobs
    • RVs/Motorhomes
    • Merchandise
    • Service Directory
    • Place an Ad
    • Place Celebration
    • Place Obituary Ad
    • Place Classified Ad
    • Place Legal Ad
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • See Legal Notices
  • Mobile & Apps

Latest News

Comedy's full of nice touches

By LISA MILLEGAN

lmillegan@modbee.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

July 18, 2007 12:00 AM

TURLOCK — Romantics will sigh at the last scene of the California State University, Stanislaus, outdoor staging of "As You Like It."

Four young couples marry by torchlight under a huge, full paper moon while a peasant sprinkles them with sparkling confetti. It's a lovely ending to this generally amiable if not flawless production, presented for the university's second annual Shakespeare Festival.

Director Jere O'Donnell is adept at creating magical moments and coming up with clever touches that liven up the 400-year-old comedy. His staging includes live goats and a caped and masked wrestler who looks like he would be at home in the World Wrestling Entertainment matches.

Because of the enchanting forest set designed by Noble Dinse, the show makes a good impression before even a verse of iambic pentameter is spoken. There is green everywhere from the painted trees on the backdrop to the tangled vines that drape over a little hill.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Modesto Bee

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

A small waterfall and pool hidden in the dense foliage add to the "ooh" and "ah" factor for those who are sharp-eyed enough to spot them.

During the opening scenes set at the court, O'Donnell adds several banners evocative of palace life and fills the stage with elegantly dressed aristocrats. This sets us up to better appreciate the contrast between city life and untamed nature (a key theme of the play) when the main characters begin their new life in the woods.

Emily Gomes is solid as Rosalind, the noblewoman who moves to the forest and dons a disguise as a boy. Christopher Zumaran is mannerly as Orlando, Rosalind's beloved, who is exiled into the woods by his jealous brother. But both seem too inhibited and worried about making mistakes. Like some other cast members, the two also need to speak up.

Happily, it was not difficult at all to understand Craig Tyhurst and Matthew Valladares, some of the most charismatic performers on the stage. As the trombone-playing jester, Touchstone, the witty Tyhurst seems like a fun person to have around at a party.

Valladares, who plays the lovesick Silvius, is skilled at physical comedy. He leaps around like a monkey on the onstage trees and swoons dramatically when his beloved Phebe rejects his romantic attentions.

Andrew Sutherland, a theater professor who plays the melancholy Jacques, obviously is more experienced and comfortable on stage than his castmates. He is a very engaging performer but he missed the mark on his most famous speech, "All the world's a stage." His disinterested delivery of the insightful monologue was no more memorable than someone talking about what groceries they were going to pick up at the store.

Joshua Morriston shows his versatility as both the good Duke Senior and the evil Duke Frederick, while Michael Caine brings a peaceful presence as the shepherd Corin. Lyz Butticci uses her squeaky high voice to give an innocent quality to Rosalind's best friend, Celia.

Talented costume designer Caroline Mercier dresses the performers in frilly, ornately decorated Renaissance attire.

The grounds open 90 minutes before the performance for picnicking. Word to the wise if you plan to attend: Bring a light jacket for when the sun goes down. Turlock may be hot during the day, but the breeze can make for chilly evenings.

Bee arts writer Lisa Millegan can be reached at 578-2313 orlmillegan@modbee.com.

  Comments  

Videos

Watch as Modesto police serve search warrants in homicide investigation

What happens during a school lockdown?

View More Video

Trending Stories

Suspect in bar shooting said he acted in self-defense: ‘The whole thing was provoked’

February 21, 2019 05:10 PM

Update: Lockdown lifted at Modesto schools as police serve search warrant

February 21, 2019 10:06 AM

Suspect in Modesto bar shooting arrested. Here’s where he was found

February 22, 2019 09:19 AM

New charges against seven accused of aiding alleged killer of Newman police corporal

February 21, 2019 04:47 PM

Motorist dies in north Modesto after swerving to avoid cat

February 22, 2019 10:21 AM

Read Next

Suspect in Modesto bar shooting arrested. Here’s where he was found
Video media Created with Sketch.

Crime

Suspect in Modesto bar shooting arrested. Here’s where he was found

By Erin Tracy

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 22, 2019 09:19 AM

Pete Warda, the suspect in a fatal shooting at a Modesto, California bar, was arrested Thursday by police. Warda is suspected of shooting of 22-year-old Thomas Hinchman at the CR2 bar on Oakdale Road.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Modesto Bee

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LATEST NEWS

Motorist dies in north Modesto after swerving to avoid cat

News

Motorist dies in north Modesto after swerving to avoid cat

February 22, 2019 10:21 AM
Looking for a job? Sacramento bosses want a ‘paradigm shift.’ Here’s what else employers want

Business

Looking for a job? Sacramento bosses want a ‘paradigm shift.’ Here’s what else employers want

February 22, 2019 10:10 AM

High School Sports

CIF State Meet: Boys, girls records, status after Day 1 for Modesto-area wrestlers

February 22, 2019 05:49 AM
Late goal by senior Saul Ruiz helps Ceres boys soccer win CIF title.

High School Sports

Late goal by senior Saul Ruiz helps Ceres boys soccer win CIF title.

February 21, 2019 10:42 PM
Suspect in bar shooting said he acted in self-defense: ‘The whole thing was provoked’

Crime

Suspect in bar shooting said he acted in self-defense: ‘The whole thing was provoked’

February 21, 2019 05:10 PM
Modesto dad arrested after suspected DUI collision with toddler

Crime

Modesto dad arrested after suspected DUI collision with toddler

February 21, 2019 02:28 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Modesto Bee App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Advertising Information
  • Place Obituary or Celebration
  • Place Classified, Legal
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story