How does Sam West's performance of As You Like It at the Sheffield Crucible explore the theme of appearance and reality? - page 1
Keywords: G.C.S.E COURSEWORK, 2006-7
By Teddy on 26/09/2008
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
How does Sam West’s production of “As You Like It” at the Sheffield Crucible explore the theme of appearance and reality?
As You Like It is a Pastoral Romance written originally by Thomas Lodge during the 16th century, at the time of the Tudor dynasty. Pastoral Romance has always been a popular theme of poetry, with the Greek poet Theocrites in 300 BC, and becoming a commonly used theme in the Renaissance period. However it was Shakespeare’s “stolen” convention of this, (as he did borrow so many of his plots) which became well known. Having borrowed Lodge’s Rosalinde (name of Lodge’s story) to write his own version of As You Like It, Shakespeare goes on to satirize Lodge’s original works in his own script. It is evident to us that a typical audience of Shakespeare’s era would have loved any kind of drama involving actors disguising themselves, dressing up as men or women (only male actors were permitted in that day) as it was used so commonly during this period, especially in Shakespeare. Here in As You Like It on stage directed by Sam West, we see appearance and reality being explored to a full degree. Having the female protagonist Rosalind dress up as a man, (Ganymede) and then, still dressed as Ganymede, pretend to be her supposedly real part as Rosalind, creates plenty of dramatic irony, which is exactly what would have entertained a Shakespearian audience. Undoubtedly Shakespeare’s As You Like It was one of his many highly entertaining and widely celebrated comedies of the sixteenth century.
Sam West demonstrates an effective use of the stage. To start with, the seating is arranged on three sides, so the stage is open to the audience from all angles. This layout of the seating in relation to the stage allows the audience to almost be positioned along with the actors, as the play is performed. This is very similar to the layout of the auditorium Shakespeare would have used in the Globe Theatre. The play is started with Daniel Weyman who plays Jaques, who enters the stage from the stairs leading down from the auditorium. He comes onto the stage alone and the play is introduced with the first 3 lines of the speech of “All the world’s a stage.” Jaques’ speech tells us that life in itself is an act, and each person is merely an actor with his different ages. From
Last 5 comments…
There have been no comments posted for this article, but you need to register if you want to be the first!