As You Like It is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s two greatest romantic comedies, the other being Twelfth Night. Dated as being written in 1599, Shakespeare used Roslynde, Euphues’ Golden Legacie written by Thomas Lodge as his primary source. Although he retained most of the original storyline and characters, Shakespeare omitted the bloody battle between the two dukes (hardly suitable for a comedy/love story) and introduced new characters – most notably the memorable Jaques and Touchstone.

It is Jaques, the melancholy lord and companion to the banished Duke Senior, that has the honour of delivering one of Shakespeare’s best known speeches, "All the world’s a stage…"

The original forest of Arden in England that Shakespeare uses as the setting for this play took its name from the Arden family – Shakespeare’s own mother, Mary Arden, being a member of that family. And this forest is a magical place for it provides an ideal opportunity to experience life ‘as you like it’. Apparently, anyone entering the forest is converted immediately to the side of goodness and truth. Those holding false views on love and life are overcome by those with true ones.

Oliver, having proven to be false in the delivery of his brotherly duty towards Orlando, repents when Orlando saves him from the deadly creatures of the forest and determines to treat him with true brotherly devotion.

Duke Frederick, who falsely reigns in his brother’s place having overthrown the true duke, joins a monastic order upon his encounter in the forest with a holy man.

When Phebe falls in love with the false image of Ganymede, “he” helps to unite her with the true man who loves her.

And, as determined as he is to remain the observer and not to become involved in the lives of those around him, even Jaques comes to the rescue when he thwarts the vicar, Sir Oliver Martext, in his attempt to falsely solemnize the marriage of Touchstone and Audrey. At the last though, Jaques, finding too much good and truth, and not enough fodder for his melancholy dissertations, leaves the forest to seek fresh 'game' elsewhere.

Two names are repeated in the play, those of Jaques (as the melancholy lord and as the middle brother to Oliver and Orlando) and of Oliver (as the eldest de Boys brother and as the false country vicar). Thankfully, the appearance of the secondary characters is brief and not enough to cause any great confusion, either for the actors or the audience.

Two special notes of interest – the song, A Lover and his Lass written by Thomas Morley, is an original song from the play, performed here as it would have been sung in performances of Shakespeare’s day.

Also, we know that William Shakespeare was an actor as well as a playwright. A relative of his later recounted having seen Will in a play wherein he was carried onstage on the back of another actor. Since he often cast himself in the roles of ‘older’ men such as the ghost of Hamlet’s father, it is generally believed then that, in As You Like It, Will played the role of the old servant, Adam.