My Initial Reaction to Celia

When I first read 'As You Like It' without knowing who I would be playing, I didn't pay much attention to Celia. Initially I thought she was a bit of a wet sock to be honest, who trailed around her cousin and didn't have much to say for herself if Rosalind wasn't involved. But after watching Laura Rogers interpretation of Celia in 'As You Like It' at the Globe in 2009 (http://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2009/jun/25/lyn-gardner-theatre-tips) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0qzMQgCyjU) I realised that this is a really fun character to have. I read the play again focusing mainly on Celia and her role in the play and discovered a hole lot of potential comedy from this character. I realised she is witty, sarcastic and fun with room to react to Rosalind's and Orlando's weird love game.

During Act three Scene One, there is a section where Rosalind and Orlando have their first meeting in the Forest and Celia watches from the background. I immediately noted all the comedic and tragic energy I could bring to this scene and started getting really excited to explore and develop Celia. I think there are two ways you can play Celia;  the first being quite shy and timid, following Rosalind around and being happy by her joy, or the second, where she is fun and flirtatious, witty but still sensible. I'm going to see how Poppy (who is playing Rosalind) and I work together to be able to know which stream I want to follow for Celia. 

I believe reacting is even more important than acting because it means you are alive in the scene and have immersed yourself in the character. Celia is the perfect character to do some really good reacting and I'm looking forward to exploring this skill and being able to have some freedom when deciding how to play her within the play. 

As all the characters are, Celia is vital to the plot line or 'As You Like It' and frames the love story between Rosalind and Orlando. She too finds love which i noticed changes her characteristics completely. She doesn't speak near the end after she meets Orlando and I think this is because she has secretly waited so long for love that when she finds it she delves so deeply into it she doesn't see the need to talk too much. Either way I am thoroughly looking forward to finding Celia and putting my own stamp on this very diverse character.