DeSales Universitys Act 1 students are forging new territory with their first-ever virtual season and for their inaugural Shakespeare production have successfully delivered an evocative and creative take on the romantic comedy, "As You Like It." Director Matt Pfeiffer deftly keeps his cast socially distanced on stage while not losing the vital connections between the actors. The show which was filmed in DeSales intimate Schubert Theatre, is buoyant and energized despite being performed without an audience.
Mark Yowakim, who plays the melancholy Jacques, powerfully opens and closes the production, first by taking away and then by returning the ghost light to the mostly bare stage. 
Leading the cast is the engaging Jess Gliot as the clever protagonist Rosalind who is banished from court, and flees to the Forest of Arden,. Rosalind is one of Shakespeares most fully developed female characters and it is a delight to watch Gliots Rosalind take charge of her own destiny. Gliot makes her Rosalind witty, self-assured, and enjoyably sharp-tongued as she dresses as a man and tries to teach her love in the ways of the heart.
As Rosalinds object of affection, Ryan Reyes Orlando is gentle, earnest and appealingly eager. Orlando is accompanied by loyal servant Adam, played with plucky bravery by P. David Hughes.
Gabrielle Moseley gives a nice touch of boldness to Rosalinds cousin Celia who runs away with her to the forest. The two women give off a sense of adventurousness that is refreshing as they disguise themselves. They are joined by the court fool Touchstone, played hilariously by Kellan McMichael. McMichael has great physicality and comedy timing in the role and gives Touchstones comic antics an air of cleverness rather than buffoonery. In the forest they meet the wanderer Jacques who delivers some of Shakespeares greatest speeches such as "All the world's a stage", "too much of a good thing" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest." Yowakim gives them the right amount of passion, laced with a touch of bemusement. In the court, Orlandos older brother Oliver is first jealous and antagonistic of his younger brother and then has a change of heart when his sibling saves his life. JP Moran guides the character believably through this turnaround. As the simple shepherdess Touchstone hotly pursues, Zoe Fox is sweetly innocent. Kassidy Kinata and AJ Jones are enjoyable as the disdainful maid Phebe and the lovelorn lad Silvius. Adding greatly to the atmosphere is Alex Bechtels folk-flavored music. "As You Like It" has more songs than any Shakespeare play and Bechtel uses his music effectively for both transitions and to tie all the scenes together. The music is performed by the actors onstage further incorporating it into the action of the play. Particularly percussion is well used for dramatic effect. As Amiens, Will Pearce brings an engaging voice to songs like "Under the Greenwood tree" and "Blow, blow, thou winter wind." This is some playful gender bending with the dukes both played by women. Meghan Moore is the usurper Frederick and Megan Dean is the banished Duke senior. The staging is creatively choreographed with social distancing in mind and this is best illustrated with the wrestling match between Orlando and Jabari Williams cocky Charles; and the sword fight between Orlando and Oliver. Kudos to Eric T. Haugens lighting which effectively creates the feel of a dappled forest simply with light and shadow.
Pfeiffer notes that in Shakespeares day, plays were presented simply and he feels this is the environment Shakespeare wrote for.
With this production of "As You Like It," he has succeeded in stripping down the play and presenting it with all of its essential vitality on display.
Photo JP Moran as Oliver and Ryan Reyes as Orlando fight in "As You Like It."Photo by Lee Butz