2007 Season - Genesius Guild

Shakespeare: "As You Like It"

“As You Like It” is Shakespeare’s ironic treatment of pastoral works in vogue at the time. While following Lodge’s novel, “Rosalynde,” closely, he changes the names of several characters and adds some of his own.

The play begins with young Orlando complaining of the treatment accorded him by his older brother who secretly plots to have him seriously injured in a match with Charles the Wrestler. The match is held at the court of Duke Frederick, who has usurped his brother’s position. Duke Senior is now in exile in Arden Forest.

Duke Senior’s daughter, Rosalind, lives at court with her cousin, Celia. Rosalind immediately falls in love with the young Orlando when he overthrows Charles. Orlando is equally smitten. Duke Frederick conceives a hatred for his niece and orders her to leave the court. Celia decides to go with Rosalind and they bring along the court jester, Touchstone. Orlando also quits his brother’s home in company with an aged servant, Adam (a role played by Shakespeare).

Disguised as the youth Ganymede, Rosalind enters the forest with Celia and Touchstone. They overhear a young swain complaining to an older man, Corin, of his unrequited love for the disdainful Phebe. The three runaways find a place to live with the help of Corin.

Meanwhile, Orlando leaves the starving Adam to find food for them. He interrupts Duke Senior and his followers at a meal where he is welcomed and invited to bring Adam to join them. The melancholy Jacques comments on the human condition in his “Seven Ages” monologue.

Orlando is so enamored of Rosalind that he writes poems and hangs them on trees where Rosalind and her friends discover them. She meets Orlando who does not recognize her in man’s attire. She offers to cure him of his love if he will come to woo her (him) as if she were Rosalind. Touchstone, meanwhile, directs his attention to a country maid, Audrey. When Rosalind upbraids Phebe for her disdain of Silvius, she is immediately attracted to what she takes to be a handsome young man.

Orlando and Rosalind continue their game of wooing. Meanwhile, Orlando’s older brother, Oliver, has been ordered by Duke Frederick to enter the forest to find Orlando. Orlando saves Oliver’s life which is threatened by a lioness and the brothers are reconciled.

Oliver declares his love for Celia. After a series of meetings between the various pairs of lovers and would-be lovers, Rosalind sorts everything out and reveals herself to her father, Duke Senior, and to Orlando. To make the ending even happier, a brother to Orlando and Oliver arrives to tell them that Duke Frederick has been converted from his wicked ways by a hermit he met in the forest. With this good news, the play ends.