“All the world’s a stage,” William Shakespeare wisely wrote, “and all the men and women merely players”. Proving the truth of this adage, students of Youth Initiative High School perform As You Like It —in an adaptation by Zoe Drew-King — November 10th through the 18th in the Landmark Center Auditorium.
Featuring a versatile cast of student actors, As You Like It follows the lives of Rosalind and Orlando, two young people thrown into new circumstances — and, as fate would have it, fall in love. After meeting Orlando, Rosalind is forced to flee the oppressive court (as her banished father, Duke Senior, did before her) under an assumed identity, the confident fellow Ganymede. Accompanied by her disguised cousin and the court’s fool, Touchstone, ‘Ganymede’ starts a new life as a man in the Forest of Arden. Unbeknownst to this merry crew Orlando has also escaped to the forest, avoiding certain death at the hands of his brother.
Caring for the elderly servant woman Agatha, Orlando takes up with the banished Duke Senior and his court, writing odes to his new love and posting them throughout the forest. Orlando comes across Rosalind (now Ganymede), and the two of them develop a relationship — with all the complications that mistaken identity, surprising romantic interests, unexpected arrivals, and new love can bring.
Set in 2017, this production of As You Like It asks what it means to love and how to find ourselves even in the most challenging circumstances through comedy, music, and joyous celebration.
As You Like It will be performed over the course of two weekends in the Landmark Center Auditorium (500 E. Jefferson st., second floor). Evening performances are November 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th at 7:30pm with two 2pm matinees on Sunday, November 12th and Saturday, November 18th. Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $8 per person or $25 per family with a special rate of $4 for children 12 and under.
Questions may be directed to Zoe Drew-King at YIHS (637-6445).