As You Like It at Theatre Box

The play has two principal settings: the court that Frederick has usurped from his brother, the rightful duke (known as Duke Senior), and the Forest of Arden, where Duke Senior and his followers (including the disgruntled Jacques) are living in exile.Rosalind, Duke Seniors daughter who is still at court, falls in love with Orlando, who has been denied by his older brother Oliver the education and upbringing that should have been Orlandos right as a gentleman. To escape Olivers murderous hatred, Orlando flees to the Forest of Arden with his faithful servant Adam. Soon Rosalind also is banished, merely for being the daughter of the out-of-favor Duke Senior. She flees to Arden accompanied by her cousin Celia and the jester Touchstone.Disguised as a young man Ganymede, Rosalind encounters Orlando, lovesick for his Rosalind, and promises to cure him of his lovesickness by pretending to be that very Rosalind, so that Orlando will learn something of what women are really like. Oliver appears in the forest intending to kill Orlando, but, when Orlando saves his brother from a hungry lioness and snake, Oliver experiences deep remorse. He then falls in love with Celia.When a young shepherdess named Pheobe falls for Ganymede (Rosalind), the loves become that much more complicated. To unravel them, Rosalind pretends to go and consult her uncle the magician. In fact, she and Celia simply change back into their court attire.Revelation of the girls true identities precipitates a group wedding ceremony. When word arrives that Frederick has repented, the Dukes exile is at an end. A group of forest inhabitantsWilliam, Audrey, Silvius, and Phoebe further round out the cast of characters. As all prepare to return to the court and celebrate the multiple weddings, Jacques decides to remain in the forest and be happy as the court jester of the Forest of Arden.