As You Like It

As You Like It concerns an old Duke, unjustly deposed by his younger brother, who retreats to the Forest of Arden and forms a sort of rustic utopia with his loyal followers. Rosalind, the rightful duke's daughter, remains at court as a devoted companion to her cousin Celia, daughter of the usurping duke. But when Rosalind falls in love with Orlando, the son of one of the banished duke's followers and himself the victim of a tyrannical brother, both Rosalind and Celia assume disguises and flee to the forest, where they encounter a magical world of friendly outlaws, wise fools, and jolly rustics. Among them are some of Shakespeare's most memorable characters, including the clown Touchstone and the melancholy Jaques. This lively pastoral romance moves from lighthearted comedy to a deeper exploration of social and literary issues, depicting an enchanted community in which disguised lovers and merry outlaws debate justice, city vs. country life, and, of course, "relations" between the sexes. Don't miss this eloquent meditation on the many-faceted but ultimately ephemeral nature of existence--"All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women in it merely players."