A favorite among Shakespeare’s comedies, As You Like It
provides us with the epitome of pastoral romance: cross-dressing and
love-notes; poetry and banter; satire, slapstick
and sincerity. Believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600, the play also
touches on hot topics related to the human experience, love, death,
exile, illusion versus reality, and much more.
Stone Soup Shakespeare's 2014 Tour will test director Eric Mercado's expertise at devising as he and the Ensemble bring new energy to this classic story. The company combines Shakespeare's text with USO style decor and showmanship, adding WWII era music, found object puppets and a special opening act: The Green Show.
Stone Soup Shakespeare's 2014 Tour will test director Eric Mercado's expertise at devising as he and the Ensemble bring new energy to this classic story. The company combines Shakespeare's text with USO style decor and showmanship, adding WWII era music, found object puppets and a special opening act: The Green Show.
Ay, now am I in Arden: the more fool I.
Dates being added, check back often for new dates. For information on bringing As You Like It to your town, e-mail info@stonesoupshakespeare.com
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About the Director
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Orlando de Boys, the youngest son of the late Sir Rowland de Boys, has been kept in poverty by his brother Oliver since his father's death. Orlando decides to wrestle for his fortune at Frederick's court.
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Duke Ferdinand has been forced into exile from the court by the usurping Duke Frederick. He takes refuge in the Forest of Arden with a band of faithful lords. Meanwhile Rosalind, his daughter, is kept at court as a companion to her cousin Celia, Frederick's daughter.
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When Rosalind meets Orlando at the wrestling match it seems the two might find happiness as they find love, but before they can live happily ever after, Duke Ferdinand banishes Rosalind and threatens Orlando.
Celia, refusing to be parted from her cousin, goes with Rosalind to seek Duke Ferdinand in the Forest. For safety they disguise themselves - Rosalind as the boy Ganymede and Celia as his sister Aliena - and persuade the fool Touchstone to accompany them. Orlando also flees to the Forest and takes refuge with the exiled Duke. Posting lyrics of his love to Rosalind through the forest.
It is in the Forest of Arden that the fun truly begins as Rosalind (now Ganymede) meets Orlando again and counsels him in the art of love and wooing. Elsewhere in the Forest love also blossoms: the shepherd Silvius suffers unrequited love for Phoebe, who has fallen for Ganymede, while Touchstone is pursuing the goat-herding Audrey.
Oliver, sent into the Forest to hunt down Orlando, has his life saved by his brother, becomes filled with remorse for his past actions and falls in love with Aliena.
Just as passions and confusion are about to boil over Ganymede promises he will conjure up the real Rosalind and that all the lovers will finally be wed...
Celia, refusing to be parted from her cousin, goes with Rosalind to seek Duke Ferdinand in the Forest. For safety they disguise themselves - Rosalind as the boy Ganymede and Celia as his sister Aliena - and persuade the fool Touchstone to accompany them. Orlando also flees to the Forest and takes refuge with the exiled Duke. Posting lyrics of his love to Rosalind through the forest.
It is in the Forest of Arden that the fun truly begins as Rosalind (now Ganymede) meets Orlando again and counsels him in the art of love and wooing. Elsewhere in the Forest love also blossoms: the shepherd Silvius suffers unrequited love for Phoebe, who has fallen for Ganymede, while Touchstone is pursuing the goat-herding Audrey.
Oliver, sent into the Forest to hunt down Orlando, has his life saved by his brother, becomes filled with remorse for his past actions and falls in love with Aliena.
Just as passions and confusion are about to boil over Ganymede promises he will conjure up the real Rosalind and that all the lovers will finally be wed...
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The 2014 tour is partially supported by the Carbondale Community Arts Southern Arts Fund and by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
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As You Like It poster art by Amy Dellagiarino