Packed with some of the most famed phrases ever penned by William Shakespeare, As You Like It takes the stage at Branford High School (BHS) on Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9. The BHS production features an all-student cast and crew.

Director Maria Ogren follows Shakespeare’s lead in this pastoral comedy, where characters expound witty words as they encounter romantic conundrums and divisional disputes between brothers. The production’s forested surroundings also echo with some musical interludes and the appearances of certain woodland creatures (deer) and those of more pastoral nature (sheep).

Ogren, a retired BHS AP English teacher, has been directing BHS fall drama productions for over 40 years. Ogren and assistant director, BHS English teacher John Matthiessen, have been working with this student cast and crew since early September.

“We do a Shakespearean play every four years,” said Ogren. “John Matthiessen had recently seen this one at the New Globe Theatre, and I recalled that it was the first Shakespearean play I had ever read at Branford High School. I thought, ‘Let’s just revisit it and see what’s there.’”

Ogren said the play’s emphasis on the authenticity of nature offsets the hypocrisy of the world surrounding it. And then, there’s the language.

“Shakespeare’s ‘...all the world’s a stage’ speech really talks about the universal human experience,” said Ogren. “So that part of it is really important. And it’s also just a rollick, where everybody goes into the forest. Because when you have a problem with the world, where do you go? You go into nature, where the same rules don’t apply.”

For the BHS production, student actors, in order of appearance, are Ginger Fitzpatrick and Rowland DeBoys (stage crew), Alex Lenox (Orlando), Margaret Lam (Eva), Connor Gilfeather (Oliver), Pranavi Limbu (Denise), Keegan Dingus (Charles), Shay Barrett (Rosalind), Lillian Rank (Celia), Morgan Selander (Madame LeBeau), Sean Healy (Dukes), Penelope Benson (Amiens), Maddie Patton (Corin), McKenzie McCall (Silvius), Nate Benson (Jaques), Luna Khadka (Phebe), Italia Bruno (Ensemble Attendant 2), Matthew Lenox (Ensemble Lord 2/Attendant 1), Jenna Medina (Ensemble Lord 1), and Max Perez (Ensemble Lord).

Among the play’s stage crew, ensemble, and deer/sheep wranglers are Holly Fischer (Stage Manager), Joey Arcangelo, Jaliyah Ennes, Noah Fisher, Gianluca Olexy, and Zak Pierret.

With the curtain nearly ready to rise, Ogren said the only additional component needed will be a great audience showing. She’s encouraging parents of the BHS players and crew to help spread the word among family, friends, their church groups, clubs, or other local organizations in which they participate.

Branford High School (BHS) Performing Arts presents As You Like It at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Cathyann Roding Auditorium at BHS at 185 East Main Street. Tickets are $5 at the door.