Theater: As You Like It

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"As You Like It" is a work of the Great William Shakespeare, it is a pastoral comedy written for a popular audience, around 1599 or early 1600. Though the setting for the play is in France, Shakespeare's "Forest of Arden" is a pastoral and not a realistic setting.
The plot of the play is that Frederick has usurped the Duchy and exiled his older brother, referred to as the Duke. The Duke's daughter Rosalind has been permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick's only child, Celia. Orlando, a young gentleman of the duchy falls in love with Rosalind but he is forced to flee his home after being persecuted by his older brother, Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and he banishes Rosalind from court. Celia and Rosalind decide to flee together accompanied by the jester Touchstone. Rosalind then disguises herself as a young man.

Rosalind, now known as Ganymede, and Celia, now known as Aliena arrive in the Arcadian Forest of Arden- not to be confused with the real Forest of Arden. This is where the exiled Duke is living with some supporters, including the melancholy Jaques. "Ganymede" and "Aliena" do not immediately encounter the Duke and his companions. they first meet with Corin, an impoverished tenant and offer to buy his master's rude cottage. Orlando and his servant Adam meanwhile find the Duke and his men and live with them. Orlando posts simplistic love poems for Rosalind on the trees. Rosalind is also in love with Orlando, meets him as Ganymede and pretends to counsel him to cure him of being in love. Meanwhile, the shepherdess Phebe, with whom Silvius is in love, falls in love with Ganymede. Touchstone also makes advances on the dull-witted shepherd girl Audrey and attempts to marry her. His plans are put to a stop by Jaques.

Orlando sees Oliver in the forest and rescues him from a lioness. This causes Oliver to repent for mistreating Orlando. Oliver meets Aliena and falls in love with her, and they agree to marry. Orlando and Rosalind, Oliver and Celia, Silvius and Phebe, and Touchstone and Audrey all get married in the final scene. It is then discovered that Frederick has also repented his faults and has decided to restore his legitimate brother to the dukedom and has adopted a religious life.

Although this creation of Shakespeare is criticized by Samuel Johnson and George Bernard Shaw, it is one of his most popular and frequently performed comedies. Watch this classic play as it comes to your city. Contact your on line ticket vendor and get your tickets.