PlayMakers wanders the woods of As You Like It

If all the world’s a stage, PlayMakers’ actors make good use of the cliche.

PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill opened its Mainstage season Sept. 25 with William Shakespeare’s classic comedy As You Like It, directed by PlayMakers’ Producing Artistic Director Joseph Haj. The comedic love story unfolds as the two protagonists, Marianne Miller’s quick-witted Rosalind and Derrick Ledbetter’s romantically inclined Orlando, meander their way through a mystical forest to find each other and love. The actors’ facial expressions as well as strategic timing portray the humorous elements, despite speaking completely in Shakespeare’s original Early Modern English.

Jimmy Kieffer genuinely owns his role as court jester Touchstone by pushing the entertaining edge to another level. Kieffer’s keen use of dialogue and wit compensates for any lack of comprehension the dense Shakespearean verse may cause. His intimate and deliberate interactions with the other actors lend greater insight into their characters.

Haj’s version includes live music, which further reinforces the play’s lighthearted qualities. The music not only emphasizes the story­, but also helps provide adequate relief to a few turbulent scenes.

The unorthodox setting and costumes give a welcome update to an otherwise traditional version. Sure, we have all heard of modern twists to classics, but a wardrobe flashback to the fifties? The characters don above-the-ankle a-line dresses and long tweed trousers, which enhance Haj’s creative liberty while still staying true to Shakespeare’s initial concept.

The stage is refreshingly different as well. Because of the circular stage construction of the Paul Green Theatre, the actors are turned away from the audience during certain parts of the performance. Despite this intentional challenge, they are still able to connect with the viewers. The circular stage serves to engage the audience right in the action during many pivotal scenes, including the epic fight between Orlando and the court wrestler Charles.

The performance ends on a merry note with all the couples reunited, singing and prancing around the stage, without any of the blood and gore that is typically associated with Shakespearean works­. Clocking in at just over two hours, As You Like It offers a faithful, jovial rendition of the original.

As You Like It will run through Oct. 10 at PlayMakers’ Paul Green Theatre at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Visit www.playmakersrep.org for tickets and performance times.