Orlando loves Rosalind. Rosalind loves Orlando but she is disguised as Ganymede. Phoebe loves Ganymede. Silvius loves Phoebe. Jacques is melancholy. and just about everyone else gets laid, especially Touchstone. The lesson is: love is madness. Welcome to the forest of Arden. Welcome to William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” which is playing at the Arden Theatre in old city, Philadelphia, until April 14.
The creative cast of eight skillful actors presents the 21 characters of this happy comedy. Some players play up to multiple roles in back to back to back to back scenes and pull it off magnificently. The play was written in the 1600s but has personalities of the 20 century. An Italian stallion, a weed-smoking duke, a whistle-crazed referee, cowboy companions and sunflower children are the personalities that are creatively combined with the 400-year-old characters. Not to mention the astounding similarity between Jacques and John Cusak in “Say Anything,” as Jacques sports a look alike ’80s trench coat.
“As You Like It” is one of Shakespeare’s happiest plays and also the inspiration as to how the Arden Theatre chose its name.
Arden is Shakespeare’s magical forest and the Arden Theatre has been turned into just that with the greener than grass floor and background noises of nature. “I like this place, and willingly could waste my time in it,” says one of the characters. The regenerative power of Arden is utopian but the conflicts and confusion are real. See how the players succeed in happiness and experience Arden in person. Visit www.ardentheatre.org for the next show.
