“After having to cancel the program last year due to Covid, we are thrilled to be back presenting Shakespeare in the Fox Valley as we have for over two decades,” Director Ron Parker said. “It’s interesting to note that Shakespeare himself experienced several quarantines during his years as a playwright and performer in London. Each lifting of restrictions and return to the stage was a joyous occasion for both actors and audiences. I can’t think of a better play to celebrate our own return than the Bard’s fun and frolicking story of love and laughter!”

“As You Like It” audiences were treated to elaborate costumes, an original musical score written by London composer Jay Chakravorty, and a variety of Shakespeare’s most memorable lines and characters. In addition, student actors portrayed Shakespeare himself and provided pre-play commentary and mingled with audience members during the show.

LINKS
Blog https://foxvalleysummershakespeare.wordpress.com/
Facebook @summershakespearetheatre
Instagram @summer_shakespeare_theatre

ABOUT “AS YOU LIKE IT”: A SYNOPSIS
Duke Senior has been forced into exile from the court by his usurping younger brother Duke Frederick. He takes refuge in the Forest of Arden with a band of faithful lords and ladies. Rosalind, his daughter, is kept uneasily at court as a companion to her cousin Celia, Frederick's daughter.

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, where he sees Rosalind and they fall in love.

Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind, fearing that she is a threat to his rule. Celia, refusing to be parted from her cousin, goes with Rosalind to seek Duke Senior in the Forest. For safety they disguise themselves - Rosalind as the boy Ganymede and Celia as his sister Aliena - and persuade their foolish butler, Touchstone, to accompany them.

On hearing of a plot by his brother Oliver to kill him, Orlando also flees to the Forest and takes refuge with the exiled Duke. Posting love lyrics on trees throughout the forest, Orlando encounters Rosalind disguised as a young man, Ganymede. She offers to cure his love-sick state by wooing Ganymede as if he were Rosalind.

Elsewhere in the Forest love also blossoms: the shepherd Silvius suffers unrequited love for Phoebe, who has instead fallen for Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise), while the butler, Touchstone is pursuing the goat-herd Audrey.

Oliver, sent into the Forest to hunt down Orlando, has his life saved by his brother, becomes filled with remorse for his past behavior and falls in love with Aliena.

Manipulating all in the forest is Hymen, the God of Love and Marriage who through his magic, manages to bring all the couples together in matrimony and restore Duke Senior to his rightful throne.

Photos by McKenzie Images Photography