CHS’s advanced theater class put on a modern reenactment of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” May 21 and 22 with the help of drama teacher Naomi Ratz.

“As You Like It” is about a women Rosalind (Alex Mamalian) and her sister Celia (Areya Jade), who were banished from their uncle’s court. They are banished because they side with Duke Senior (Mo Shahoohi) who has already been banished from the court. They seek shelter in the forest of Arden and Rosalind disguises as a man (Ganymede) and Celia as an old woman. However, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando (Ethan Miller), whose brother (Sam Nasar) is plotting to kill him. Orlando survives and flees with his servant Adam (Kate Goldberg). Oliver is saved from a lion by Orlando, and the two brothers are reconciled. Oliver relates the story to the two girls, and falls in love with Celia. Phebe (Heather Kirschner) has fallen for Ganymede, which causes some confusion until Rosalind reveals herself. Phebe then agrees to marry Silvius (Michael Votaw). Rosalind is reunited with her father, and marries Orlando. Oliver marries Celia. Touchstone (Bobby Morris) marries Audrey (Keely).

The reenactment took place in an office, instead of a court, and started off with television show the Office’s theme song. Duke Senior gets fired from the manager’s position instead of being banished from the court and the props reflected the modern theme with computers and coffee machine.

Employees were working in the background in their cubicles (fold up tables with two people at each table) with computers (plastic covers that had pieces of paper through a clear seal as if they had a document open, like on the front of some binders).

While the modernization of the play did not interfere with the understanding of the play, like any play, there were some downsides.

Since the play was shortened from two hours to half an hour, the narrators had a much greater importance in terms of making sure the audience understood what was going on. Still, the narration was very fast and difficult to understand.

Unfortunately, what stuck out the most was the servant during one of Orlando and Rosalind’s scenes. Orlando was putting sticky notes on the eyes of the servant so she couldn’t see. The unplanned incident came off as more awkward and unnecessary than comical.

In spite of the few negative parts in the play, there were many enjoyable moments. All of the actors played their part elegantly and the overall performance was well executed. The leads, Ethan Miller and Alex Mamalian, stood out as the top actors. They knew their lines and put true emotion and feeling into their characters.

Areya Jade, who played Celia, was better than the leads. She did a great job of embodying her character and brought intense emotion and effort that let her stand out.

Bobby Morris, who played the clown, was the most comical actor on stage. His problematic, yet effective flirting wooed his soon to be wife, and the cluster of ties around his neck coupled with his goofy nature made him a unique character during the performance.

The improvisation was overall enjoyable and flowed well. The most memorable moment of improvisation was at the very beginning play. Oliver, played by Sam Nasar, was arguing with his brother Orlando, played by Ethan Miller. Oliver was wearing a hat and Orlando ripped it off his head. Holding Oliver by the throat he said, “I have as much as my father in me as you,” and Ethan added on, “Except that ugly ass hair.” It fit the moment even though it wasn’t originally scripted and appealed to the listeners who don’t really like or understand Shakespeare.

The play was overall well-done and well-performed. There were humorous moments and not so funny and awkward moments. It was fun and because it was not taken as seriously as other performances, the actors could add a little of their own taste of comedy to their characters and the play.