As You Like It? Very Well, Indeed!

As You Like It -William Shakespeare

       At the end of February I discovered that not only did Chicago have a Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, but also that they have a deal where you can get tickets for $20 if you're under 35 years old. 

       I've had a desire to read all of Shakespeare's plays for a long time; however, I had tragically never seen a Shakespearean play before, so I quickly remedied this by going to see their latest presentation of William Shakespeare's As You Like It.  And I definitely liked it, both seeing the play in preformed in person and reading the play itself.

       What's the play about?  Rosalind is the daughter of the banished Duke whose cousin and best-friend, Celia's father has usurped the banished Duke. Rosalind becomes enamored with a young man named Orland after a wrestling match.

       Celia's father, the Duke, becomes angry at a young man named Orlando and banishes him to the forest.  The Duke becomes angered at Rosalind and banishes her as well to the forest, but Celia decides to follow Rosalind into the forest.  Celia decides to join Rosalind in exile.  Both girls decide to assume different identities with Rosalind deciding to pretend to be a young man.  And once everyone, including the Rosalind's father the banished Duke is in the forest, confusion and comedy commence in full force.  Oh, and there are some awesome monologues, including the famous "all the world's a stage" one.

      I really did love this play.  I went into watching the play knowing very, very little about it, but I found it hilarious.  Though the play's run has ended, if you get a chance to read or see the play, I'd definitely take it.  Hopefully next time the Chicago Shakespeare Theater has a Shakespeare play, I'll be able to see it earlier in the run.

Rating 4.5 out of 5.