Hickory – The majority of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy As You Like It takes place in a place known as the Forest of Arden, where high-born lords and ladies hide out to escape the persecution of their ruler, Duke Frederick. Mark Woodard, a guest director at the Hickory Community Theatre, has chosen to stage the forest scenes in the “flower power” era of the late 1960’s.
“One of the things I love about Shakespeare,” Woodard said, “is that his works provide us with the opportunity to play with the time and place of the play. Having the exiled nobles become hippies was, to me, the perfect choice to express how they have thrown off the restrictive nature of being part of the royal court.”
Performances of As You Like It are February 7-17, Thursdays (Feb 7 & 14) at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays (Feb 8, 9, 15 & 16) at 8:00pm, and Sundays (Feb 10 & 17) at 2:30pm. Tickets for Fridays through Sundays are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (60 and over), and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets for Thursday night performances are $14 for adults and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Call the box office at 828-328-2283 or visit hickorytheatre.org to purchase tickets or get more information.
HCT is a Funded Affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. The Theatre’s 2018-2019 Season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and A Cleaner World. As You Like It is produced by Catawba Radiology.
PHOTO: Mark Rose, Chloe J Alderman, Jeff Hatley and Kayla Harper in As You Like It. The Shakespeare comedy continues Feb 7-17 on the Jeffers Mainstage at the Hickory Community Theatre. Photo by Ken Burns.
