As You Like It
The play was given on June 6, 1910, at the Greek Theater at the University of California, Berkeley. She had been invited by the University of California to do the play. There were some 8000 spectators. The production was considered to be a dramatic failure; but the critics didn't criticize her directly, though
From the book: Charles Frohman:" Manager and Man by Issac F. Marcosson and Daniel Frohman, with an Appreciation by James M. Barrie. 1916
The following June, in the Greek Theater of the University of California, at Berkeley, Miss Adams made her first and only appearance as Rosalind in "As You Like It." Ten thousand people saw the performance. Her achievement illustrates the extraordinary and indefatigable quality of her work. She rehearsed "As You Like It" during her transcontinental tour of "What Every Woman Knows" which extended from sea to sea and lasted thirty-nine weeks.
Reviews
One review said:
"Seven thousand reserved seats were sold for the production of Shakespeare's As You Like It tonight in the open-air Greek Theater on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley, but it is safe to say that fully eight thousand persons witnessed this remarkable production in which Maude Adams appeared as Rosalind...The scenic effects were spectacular, as brilliant electric lights brought out the beauty of the stage settings, and these were made more conspicuous by a background of Australian Eucalyptus trees, which looked black under the lights."
"Maude Adams scored a personal triumph, for she lent dignity to the part of Rosalind, while investing it with rare womanly charm."
"When Maude Adams produced "As You Like It," she had the entire stage hidden by a transplanted forest and thousands of yards of blue cheesecloth, the action taking place in the orchestra pit before the stage. The performance under the night sky with Miss Adams in the stellar role was necessarily charming, but of course it gained nothing from the hidden beauty of the theater itself."(The Open-Air Theatre by Sheldon Cheney 1918)
“I would not say Miss Adams was the ideal Rosalind. There seemed to be something lacking in the largeness or possibly I should say buoyancy, about her characterization. Rosalind is full of the spirit of adventurous fun and glorious romance, and while Miss Adams lacked none of the qualities which a keen intelligence would suggest for the complex character, her fun seemed to be rather quaint and roguish than effervescent and her romance, while ardent, a little too repressed. Yet all this is offered only as a fleeting impression and not actual judgment, for the impression itself may very well have disappeared with the space of one of the acts I was not fortunate enough to witness.” San Francisco Chronicle, June 7, 1910
“Miss Adams at least strengthened her already firm hold upon the affection of the American public.” Sunset, Aug. 1910
These articles are from the original running of the play. The one on the left tells about some plans for the performance of the play, and the next two are a major article on the play.
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