As You Like It
PLOT SUMMARY
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Duke Frederick has banished his sister, Duchess Senior, and usurped her power. He allows her daughter, Rosalind, to stay at court with Frederick’s daughter, Celia, her best friend. Watching a wrestling match, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando, one of the contestants. He is a young man of nobility but is mistreated by his older brother, Oliver. Orlando is victorious over the champion wrestler, but is advised to flee the court. His old servant, Eve, leaves with him. Rosalind also incurs the Duke’s displeasure and is banished. Celia runs away with her, and they take the clown Touchstone with them.
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In the forest of Arden where Duchess Senior lives happily, Rosalind arrives dressed as a man with Celia disguised as her sister, calling themselves Ganymede and Aliena. They buy a farm and decide to live as shepherds. Orlando, together with Eve, is taken in by the Duchess in the forest. Her noble men and women enjoy the life in the woods, and so do the newcomers. Touchstone woos the country wench Audrey who is loved by William, the melancholic Jaques is fascinated by the clown, and the shepherdess Phoebe refuses the faithful Silvius.
Orlando, also in love with Rosalind, leaves love messages for her all over the forest. When Rosalind (as Ganymede) meets him, she persuades him to treat her like he would Rosalind, just so he can practice wooing. They meet and banter, but Orlando does not recognize her. Phoebe, however, falls for Rosalind in men’s clothing. Meanwhile, Duke Frederick has sent Oliver after his younger brother. In the forest, Orlando saves his brother from a lion and they are reconciled. Oliver and Celia fall in love immediately. All the confusion is finally solved by Rosalind, who meets with all of them, including the duchess. The goddess of marriage, Hymen, blesses all four couples in the end.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
AS YOU LIKE IT: Shakespeare's Feminist Play
Michael Lynch
All the female characters in Shakespeare's plays, as was the custom of the time, were actually boys and men dressed as females, whose characteristics are dictated by the norms of the time, where women are confined to the restrictions placed upon them by the male domination. Women were to represent obedience, chastity, and silence. But in his play, AS YOU LIKE IT, we see a very "modern" take on the female psyche. Here we see a woman, taking her own initiative to change the way things are to get what she wants. She is love with a fine fellow and she will do all in her power to get him. She dresses like a man to give her the freedom to do such, without societal restrictions. In our production, we have emphasized this attitude.
It has been said that Shakespeare wrote AS YOU LIKE IT to please his audience and give them what they want, lovers, marriages, clowns and a happy ending. Everything, even today...As we like it.
The Cast
David Hambley Duke Frederick
Heike Hambley Duchess Senior/Duchess in Exile
Briana Garcia Rosalind, daughter to Duchess in Exile
Sheila Correa Celia, daughter to Frederica
Justin Ledezma Touchstone, the court jester
Ana Yajaira Sanchez La Belle, Lady at court/ Goddess Hymen
Jeffry Jackson Orlando, a young noble
Matthew Rivera Oliver, his older brother
Jacob Garcia Charles, the wrestler/William
Sandra Hay Eve, Orlando’s servant
Michael Abruzzo Jaques, a lord to Duchess in Exile
Niara Jones Lady Amiens, singer to Duchess in Exile
Heather Simmons Lady 1 to Duchess i.E.
Tess Barklay Lady 2 to Duchess i.E
Davin Soehnen Corin, a shepherd
Cheney Mc Gee Silvius, a shepherd in love with Phoebe
Alyssa McCabe Phoebe, a young shepherdess
Robyn Swain Audrey, a country wench
The Staff and Crew
Director Michael Lynch
Producers Sandra Hay, Heike Hambley
Stage Manager/Assist. Director Emily McSwain
Costumer Eulalia Gamez
Props Manager Jenell Barnes
Fight choreographer Ambrose Mac
Composer Tonatiuh Newbold
Sound Engineer Emily McSwain
Sound assistant Maggie Mc Swain
Tech Assistant Naomi Parra
Drop Artist Katt Szyndler
Poster/Photos Shawn Overton
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