As You Like It
William Shakespeare
Rosalind flees her uncle’s court disguised as a boy and escapes to the Forest of Arden where she encounters the exiled Duke and her lover Orlando. In the forest social hierarchies dissolve as characters explore the nature of love poetry and the seven ages of man. The play is a pastoral comedy that celebrates the freedom of the natural world over the corruption of the court. It features Rosalind one of Shakespeare’s most intelligent and dominant female protagonists.
Rosalind: A brilliant and witty woman who uses her male disguise to educate her lover on the reality of romance. Jacques: A melancholic philosopher whose cynical observations provide a counterpoint to the play’s romantic optimism. Orlando: A brave but lovelorn young man who proves his devotion through poetry and kindness in the forest.
First Performance: 1603, at Globe Theatre, London
A popular romantic comedy; noted for its philosophical depth and its famous All the world's a stage speech.
Original Actors: Unknown