Shakespeare in the Age of Screens and Shadows: Rockland County’s “All’s Well That Ends Well”
In 2025,the Children’s Shakespeare Theater (CST) is staging a strikingly modern adaptation of All’s Well That Ends Well,highlighting the enduring relevance of the Bard’s work. Managing Director Gray Johnson believes “there are a lot of easy parallels that we can make,” ensuring Shakespeare will always resonate with audiences.
This production reimagines the King of France (played by Alexander Josuweit) as a figure hopelessly addicted to his cell phone, neglecting his health and refusing prescribed medicines. His recovery hinges on the dedication of Helena (Myla Zimbler), daughter of a renowned, deceased physician, who vows to risk her life on her father’s cures. Upon the King’s restoration to health, he offers Helena any reward, and she requests the hand of Bertram (Levon Goldberg), a young lord she loves. However,Bertram,seeking to avoid commitment,flees to join a European war alongside his impulsive friend,Parolles (Richard Reimann Valdes). A striking image from the production, captured in a scene from a memorial service, shows Parolles engrossed in texting, a visual commentary on modern distraction.
CST, a nonprofit association celebrating its 25th anniversary, has brought all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays to life through young performers. Artistic Director Brady Amoonclark emphasizes the chance for Rockland County residents to “come support a small local nonprofit.” The company actively encourages children of all experience levels to participate in acting.
Beyond performance, CST functions as an educational program. Emilia Falkner, 17, currently serving as Assistant Director of All’s Well That Ends Well, has played over 20 characters with the company. She reflects that her time with CST has taught her “how to project, you learn how to be sure of yourself and also to adapt to circumstances.”
Amoonclark highlights the importance of cultivating patience and presence, skills increasingly rare in a world of instant gratification. “One of the things we teach kids how to do is wait. When you’re doing theater, you have to wait your turn, and wait your turn quietly. It’s a new skill to cultivate.” The program prioritizes confidence, creativity, and community, particularly benefiting its many homeschooled actors. For CST’s young performers,understanding Shakespeare is about exploring the human condition as much as memorizing lines.
Falkner observes, “Shakespeare is so relevant to this day. Every play shows how humanity sort of repeats itself… it gives you a certain outlook on human actions.” All’s Well That Ends Well‘s themes of pride, growth, and forgiveness are particularly potent in this modern setting.
While the play itself doesn’t directly address contemporary issues like drone strikes, the production’s focus on distraction and the consequences of unchecked desires offers a subtle commentary on the anxieties of the modern world. The King’s addiction to his phone can be seen as a metaphor for the ways technology can consume and isolate individuals, mirroring the detached nature of modern warfare and the ethical questions surrounding remote conflict.
Amoonclark concludes,”While this is a theater company,I’ve always seen it as more of an education program. It’s magical to see how much they learn – about theater, and about themselves.”
