2. SCRIPT
• As You Like It has been interpreted by Hollywood and other theatrical
performances
• Including the original play, other manuscripts exists to choose from, such
as the 2006 HBO production adapted by Kenneth Branagh
• For this production, I have chosen to retain the original
manuscript, but with some slight modifications:
• Reduce the homoeroticism between Rosalind and Celia
3. CASTING
• Casting of each character will be based on the
personality of the character and features described in the
play such as their age, body type, and other relevant
details. Typecasting will be employed when appropriate.
• Main characters:
1.
Duke Senor – is the eldest of the play. The actor that
is casted should be elderly or at least not too young that
make-up cannot make the necessary adjustments.
4. CASTING
2.
Rosalind – the character should be able to later pass for a
young male (more or less). Additionally, Orlando falls in
love with Rosalind immediately so the character must also
must be a beauty. A difficult duality to accomplish. In the
2006 production of As You Like It, Bryce Howard was
casted. I believe a suitable alternative would be Kristen
Stewart. She could easily pass for a young male.
3.
Orlando de Boys – paired with Rosalind, Orland de Boys
is an attractive man who is victorious over the wrestler
Charles. Relative to Oliver, Orlando should be casted
younger and the brothers should have the same race. The
character is well-loved by all and occasionally such a trait
can be used to discriminate in casting. Given this
information I would cast Adam Brody. My opinion is that
the audience will immediately believe that he is well-loved
by all and would probably need to bulk up a bit so the
match against the wrestler is believable.
5. CASTING
4.
Oliver de Boys – The eldest brother will be played by
Michael Shannon. The casting is based on typecasting and
personality. Michael Shannon has held many roles where he
has portrayed a personality type that seeks to destroy or
without reason terrorize someone. He plays the role well
and would be casted for the role of Oliver who seeks to
take away Orlando’s birth right.
5.
Celia – seems like an innocent person who is devoted to
her friends. Blake Lively seems suited for the part. She fits
the age description and matches ethnicity with Duke Senor,
her uncle.
6. SPINE & STYLE
• The spine of this play is exile and return
• Those exiled into the forest of Ardenne are remedied by this therapeutic
trip and return with balance and sense of rightness to the Court
• Given the spine of the play, realism would be the style used for the play
since it would be extremely difficult using naturalism to depict the forest
• Realism would allow for the scenery to be skeletal which would resemble
real life, but not be an exact copy
• This style would provide enough directional flexibility to depict the spine
without creating the burden of producing an actual copy of real life
7. SPINE & STYLE: USE OF DESIGN
ELEMENTS
• The set contrasts the differences between the court and the woods
• The contrast of color between the two settings is the major design element
that depicts the therapeutic nature of the forest on the characters – an
environment that nourishes love for the lovesick
The Court
The Forest of Arden
8. DIRECTIONAL CONCEPT
• The directional concept used for the play will be one that revolves around
the central image of a hearts
• The play involves multiple love stories and revolves around romantic love
• As You Like It, depicts love as a means to happiness and fulfillment
• In each set and scene there will be an image of a heart. The forest of
Ardenne, a location where the lovesick gather and where the god of
marriage appears, will have a special heart symbol (similar to the one
below).
