Love, wit, and tomfoolery at the Farm! For the fourth year running, the Shawnigan Players light up the outdoor stage at Gem o’ the Isle Farm in beautiful Cowichan Station. This year, William Shakespeare’s beloved pastoral comedy “As You Like It” treats Valley audiences to a playful tale of young love, mistaken identity, and rustic country life.
“As You Like It” follows Rosalind, daughter of the usurped Duke, into the Forest of Arden as she flees her wicked uncle with her best friend Celia and Touchstone, the waggish Court Jester. When Rosalind, disguised as a boy named Ganymede, encounters her crush Orlando also hiding in the forest, she hatches a plan to test his devotion to her by offering to “cure” him of his love. While the court folk blunder about the forest, the country folk marvel at their peculiarities, and love blossoms in unexpected ways. Full of colourful characters including wrestlers, goatherds, singers, and terrible poets, “As You Like It” sparkles with hilarity as Shakespeare pokes fun at our all-too-familiar human foibles.
“As You Like It” is director Alex Gallacher’s fourth production at Gem o’ the Isle. Past summer productions at the Farm have included “Pride and Prejudice”(2012), “Twelfth Night” (2013), and 2014’s “Romeo and Juliet,” which went on to win Best Ensemble at Theatre BC’s South Island Zone festival.
The vibrant cast features many of the community’s talented young actors as well as seasoned stage veterans. Rosalind is played by Hannah Gallacher, a dedicated actor and dancer most recently on stage in Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing.” Jacob Dennison, who lately appeared as the Pirate King in “Pirates of Penzance,” plays the lovesick Orlando, and Valley favourite Bob Norris rules the Forest as the kindly Duke Senior.
“As You Like It” runs August 12th – 16th at Gem o’ the Isle Farm, 2465 Koksilah Rd. Showtime is 7:30pm with a 2:00pm matinée performance only on the 16th. Tickets are $15 advance or $20 at the gate. Family passes (1 adult with up to 4 children or 2 adults with up to 3 children) available for $30 advance / $40 gate. Tickets are available at Ten Old Books, Mason’s Store, or email [email protected] to reserve.
For physical events that happen at a specific time. For example a concert, or dance performance. If there are multiple shows, you can still duplicate your event to cover them all.
In-Person Event
Thu. August 13th 2015 + Add to Calendar
The Gem 'O the Isle Sculpture Garden
7:30pm - 10:30am Doors at: 7:00pm
$15 adv $20 door
