AS YOU LIKE IT
an adaptation with music, song and an all-female cast.
An English Theatre Milan Project, with the Milan Singers
Saturday 15 April, at 6pm- All Saints Church, via Solferino, 17 (Brera). Free entry, donations accepted.
Sunday 16 April, at 5:30pm- Spazio Alda Merini, via Magolfa 30 (Darsena / Navigli area). Free entry, followed by an aperitivo (10 euro).
CAST
ROSALIND Emma Louise Burdett
CELIA Giulia Sarah Gibbon
ORLANDO Melissa Marino
OLIVER Maria Makeever
TOUCHSTONE Maria Makeever
LA BELLEZZA Claudia Moltrasio
AMIENS Maria Makeever
DUKE SENIOR Amy Barton
JAQUES Claudia Moltrasio
HYMEN Catherine Bell
NARRATOR Louise Kissane
TREES, FORESTERS AND PAGES
The Milan Singers, directed by Amy Barton
CREATIVE TEAM
Director and Adapter Maggie Rose
Assistant Director Melissa Marino
Costume/Props design Claudia Moltrasio
Songs and Music by
Maria Makeever and The Milan Singers, directed by Amy Barton
WATCH OUR ALL SAINTS PERFORMANCE FREE:
If you enjoyed our workshop production, please consider contributing to the continuation of English Theatre Milan and projects like these:
Alternatively, you can make a bank transfer straight to ETM:
Bank: INTESA SANPAOLO
Name: ENGLISH THEATRE MILAN
Iban: IT95B0306909606100000169520
Reason for payment: Donation As You Like It Performance
Four centuries before Hollywood invented its famous boy-meets-girl rom-coms, Shakespeare was writing romantic comedies such as As You Like it, featuring unforgettable young people like Rosalind, Orlando, Celia and Oliver. In this play, he moves the group from the Court and city to the Forest of Arden, where they disguise themselves, play different roles and fall head over heels in love. In our adaptation, we explore the pros and cons of life in the forest, foregrounding the melancholic figure of Jaques, an ecologist ante litteram. We also delve into the gender identities of the lead characters from a female perspective. When a woman (Emma Burdett) playing Rosalind, who’s playing Ganymede, who’s playing a fictitious Rosalind, meets the gorgeous Orlando (Melissa Marino), sparks fly, as well as confusion and laughter. On the way, Shakespeare poses some important questions about our environment and about gender identities, both of which still chime loud in today’s world. Join us and sing along!
Our adaptation represents a reduced version of Shakespeare’s comedy based on a workshop designed for native and advanced English speakers, both professionals and non-professionals, who are passionate about theatre and Shakespeare. The adaptation is in an English that has been slightly modernized, while some of the songs have been reworked.
ETM are very grateful to Vicar Vickie Sims and the wardens at All Saints Church, and Donatella Massimilla, director of Spazio Alda Merini, for kindly hosting our play. We thank the Moltrasio family and friends for donating some of the costumes. Our sincere thanks to Amy Barton and the Milan Singers for teaming up with us for this show.
Sal Cabras and Maggie Rose, directors of English Theatre Milan.
Ducdame
lyrics by Maria Makeever
Do do do do doo (x2)
Gather everyone you know (x2)
Whisper something soft and slow (x2)
If you had a life of ease (x2)
Left a castle to live in the trees (x2)
If you had a life so good (x2)
But you chose to live in the woods (x2)
You might want to check your head
Maybe as a baby you fell out of bed
I won’t tell you how to live your life
If you want to be stupid that’s your right
Hey! Hey hey hey! (x2)
Ducdame (x2)
Hey! Hey hey hey! (x2)
Ducdame (x2)
Ducdame (continues on)