As You Like It - 2010
The play is set in a duchy in France, but most of the action takes place
in a location called the 'Forest of Arden', unmistakably Stratford.
Duke Frederick has usurped the Duchy and exiled his older brother, Duke
Senior. Senior's daughter Rosalind has been permitted to remain at court
because she is the closest friend and cousin of Frederick's only child,
Celia. Orlando, a young gentleman of the kingdom who has fallen in love
at first sight of Rosalind, is forced to flee his home after being persecuted
by his older brother, Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and banishes Rosalind
from court. Celia and Rosalind decide to flee together accompanied by the
jester Touchstone, with Rosalind disguised as a young man.
Rosalind, now disguised as “Ganymede”, and Celia, now disguised as “Aliena”,
arrive in the Forest of Arden, where Duke Senior now lives with some supporters,
including "the melancholy Jaques.”Ganymede" and "Aliena”
meet up with Corin, an impoverished tenant, and offer to buy his master's
rude cottage.
Orlando and his servant Adam find the Duke and his men and are soon living
with them and posting love poems for Rosalind on the trees. Rosalind, also
in love with Orlando, meets him as Ganymede and pretends to counsel him
to cure him of being in love. Ganymede says "he" will take Rosalind's
place and "he" and Orlando can act out their relationship.
Meanwhile, the shepherdess Phebe, with whom Silvius is in love, has fallen
in love with Ganymede (Rosalind). The cynical Touchstone has also made
amorous advances towards the dull-witted goat-herd girl Audrey, and attempts
to marry her before his plans are thwarted by the intrusive Jaques.
Finally, Silvius, Phebe, Ganymede, and Orlando are brought together in
an argument with each other over who will get whom. Ganymede says he will
solve the problem, having Orlando promise to marry Rosalind, and Phebe
promise to marry Silvius if she cannot marry Ganymede. The next day, Ganymede
reveals himself to be Rosalind, and since Phebe has found her love to be
false, she ends up with Silvius.
Orlando rescues his dominating brother Oliver from a lioness. Oliver repents
for mistreating Orlando. Oliver meets Aliena (Celia’s) 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 are married in the final
scene, after which they discover that Frederick has also repented his faults,
deciding to restore his legitimate brother, Senior to the dukedom and adopt
a religious life. Jaques, ever melancholy, declines their invitation to
stay in the forest with them and also decides to adopt a religious life
with the repentant Frederick.
