Posted - September 20, 2010

Shakespearean comedy gets video game twist in Eureka College production

October 12-17 - Pritchard theatre

Eureka College will stage a modern-day retelling of William Shakespeare's "As You Like It" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12-16 and 2 p.m. Oct. 17 in Pritchard Theatre.

The comedy follows the intertwining love lives of teens who flee to the woods to escape their troubles. The Eureka production will replace some of the play's action with video game-playing, according to theater professor and director Holly Rocke.

"At the core, 'As You Like It' explores the ability of young people to reinvent themselves and create new identities," Rocke said. Lead character Rosalind dresses as a man, and the Eureka production puts her in a football uniform. Even the evil brother, Oliver, transforms into a romantic lead by the end of the play, Rocke said.

"By viewing the young people's Forest-of-Arden refuge as an alternate reality with rules shaped by Rosalind and her gang, the characters have quite a bit in common with the Gen Y and Millennium generations, who often create their own virtual worlds through video games," Rocke said.

It's not a stretch, then, to morph the youthful wrestling match of Orlando and Charles into a Wii Boxing battle or instead of playing the lute, having characters express themselves musically through Rock Band, Rocke said.

Playing lead characters are Catherine Davis of Otterbein, Ind., as Rosalind; Alyssa Martin of Peoria as Celia; and Tim Jenkins of Watseka as Orlando.

Rounding out the cast are Becky Collins of Monee, Caitlin Closner of Morton, David Blume of Bloomington, Erin Cochran of Collinsville, Jacob Coombs of East Peoria, Kesenia Marten of  Litchfield, Scott Herman of Park Ridge, Taryn Hefley of El Paso, Tiffany Davis of Lewistown, Bradley Gabehart and  Julie Gautschy, both of Streator, and Rahmell Brown,  Samantha Hubbard and Kayla Koeppel, all of Peoria.

Crew members include stage manager Christine Funk of St. Charles and assistant stage manager Jenny Leezer of Toulon. Marty Lynch, who joined the Eureka College theater faculty this fall, will design the set and lighting.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. For reservations, call (309) 467-6363.

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318