Episcopal High School Fall Play: As You Like It

Every year, Episcopal High School students perform three major plays, one in the fall, one in the winter and one in the spring. This year, the Episcopal High School theater department has been working hard on putting together their fall play, As You Like It, by William Shakespeare, and performed it for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 24. 

As You Like It is about two men who are enemies, however, their daughters are best friends. One of the men, Duke Frederick, banishes the other man’s daughter, Rosalind, from the court, but this causes the Duke’s daughter, Celia, to ask to be banished as well, because she cannot live without Rosalind. From there, they travel to the Forest of Arden, where there is mystery and they each find romance.

Junior Elizabeth Barineau plays the role of Celia. Elizabeth has been active in theater at Episcopal since freshman year. She participated in last year’s fall play, Dracula, and loved it so much she could not wait to audition for As You Like It.

Elizabeth said, “In the beginning, my ultimate goal was to make it, but my goal changed when I read for Celia, and I felt this natural connection to her character”. Elizabeth loves her role as Celia and, in fact, perfecting her role as Celia has been her favorite part of the rehearsal. This role has not been an easy one, but Elizabeth “loved putting the pieces of the puzzle together to create this satisfying whole in the end”. It took Elizabeth many approaches and attempts to master this role, and when she did the outcome was very satisfying for her.    

Preparing for this play has been very time-consuming and at times was a little hard, but Elizabeth learned to manage her time and keep calm under the pressure. In the beginning, Elizabeth says, “it was difficult to manage my schoolwork with theater, but I learned to adjust and put my priorities first”. Avoiding procrastination is key, and Elizabeth’s teachers have been very supportive throughout the whole process. According to Elizabeth, “communication is key in order to balance the two”. 

The time has come, and Episcopal will be performing As You Like It the weekend of Oct. 28-30. 

“The cast has worked so hard to get these performances, and we can’t wait to show everybody what we have been creating on stage for months,” Elizabeth said. While it will be very exciting, each play member “will be in his or her own personal withdrawal period, missing the cast’s connection” after the play is over.