Forest of Arden... where love blossomed
 The perfect setting for young love to bloom out, Forest of Arden in
the beautiful summer’s warmth in arabesque colour on its burgeoning;
scented aroma afloat the air and young love taking center stage in its
wild glory. Shakespeare set the vibrancy of colour to the finale of one
of his most popular plays, ‘As you like it’. Written in 1599, and set in
courts and royal houses with Dukes and Lords along with varied
characters. Shakespeare brought the play’s finale to the lustrous glory
of Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, a stone-throw-away from his
birthplace, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Derived principally from Thomas Lodge’s novel, Rosalynd which was
written in 1590 with Shakespeare taking as much as around nine years to
adapt its story to come up with As you like it introducing extra
characters such as Jaques and Touchstone for further elaboration. The
story revolves around the three sons of late Sir Eowland de Boys. The
elder son, Oliver hates his younger brother. Orlando whom he has
humiliated often.
Oliver – ‘Now Sir, what makes you here?
Orlando – Nothing. I am not taught to make anything.
Ol – What mar you then Sir?
Or – Marry sir, I am helping you to mar which God made a poor
unworthy brother of yours, with idleness.
Ol – Marry Sir, be better employed and be naught awhile...
Act 1. Scene 1.
The unsuspecting Orlando is matched against Charles who is Duke
Fredrick’s deadly wrestler. They fight and Orlando wins and is watched
by Rosalind, the daughter of the banished Duke along with her cousin,
Celia who is the daughter of Fredrick. Immediately, Rosalind falls in
love with Orlando and Fredrick who is jealous of popularity, banishes
her. In the guise of a boy and calling herself Ganymede, she leaves with
Cecilia as Ganymede’s sister. Jester, Touchstone too joins the two of
them to find her father in the Forest of Arden where he lives with his
brother, others and the melancholy courtier. Jaques.
In the meantime, Orlando too leaves for Arden along with his ever
faithful, Adam. All travellers arrive, especially Rosalind as Ganymede,
Celia as a shepherdess. While at Arden, Rosalind and Celia overhear
shepherd Silvius declaring his love for Phebe who is a scorful,
deceitful shepherdess. Orlando who had arrived earlier, joins the Duke’s
court and becomes a trusted member. Madly in love with Rosalind, he
hangs his love poems on the trees not being aware that Ganymede is his
lady love. Rosalind confronts him and assures that she is able to cure
his infatuation only if he cares to come every day to her cote and woo
her by calling her Rosalind.
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Rosalind – ‘You are there follow’d by a faithful shepherd.
Look upon him, love him, he worships you.’ (Act V)
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Amidst the stunning beauty of Forest of Arden, the story
begins, flower out and all lovers are united, bringing a
happy ending to As you like it. |
Meanwhile Phebe falls in love with Ganymede and Touchstone knowing
the triangle, declares his love for the country wench, Audrey. Fredrick
who has summarily banished Orlando arrives in Arden only to find him
there. He hears how Orlando rescued his brother from a lioness.
Seeing the blood-stained napkin, Gannymede faints. Oliver and Celia
declare their love for each other. So does Touchstone to Audrey and
Silvius to Phebe. They are all united in harmony led by Rosalind and
Orlando. The banished Duke is restored while Fredrick decides to retire
and go into meditation. Rosalind speaks an epilogue.
Rosalind - “it is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue; but
it is more unhandsome, than to see the lord the prologue. If it be true
that good wine needs no bush, t’is true that a good play needs no
epilogue yet to use good bushes, and good plays prove the better by the
help of good epilogues. What a case am I then?, that I am neither a good
epilogue nor cannot insinuate with you in the behalf of a good play?
(continues)
Act V In performance
This glistening comedy was believed to have been the first play when
the Globe Playhouse opened in 1599. The story revolves around the
bewitching Rosalind, a deity in the forest and a great testing part for
any actress.
Early in the 18th century, a listless adaption was staged at Drury
Lane in 1723. With additional characters introduced with the return of
the genuine text in 1740 to date, there has been a long splendour of
Rosalinds such as the American Ada Rehan, in 1890, Athene Seyler at
Stratford in 1919. Fabia drake in 1932, the beautiful Margaret Scott in
Open Air in 1936. Edith Evans at Old Vic and New from 1936-7.
She was always sited in the forest with arching boughs and vague
silvery distances and ornamental water. A host of Hollywood thespians
gave life to Rosalind and many of New York’s Rosalinds, the most
memorable were Mary Anderson in 1885, Katherine Hepburn in 1950. Carole
Shelly in 1972. As you like it also hit the screen in 1936 with
Elizabeth Bergner as the vivacious Rosalind and Sir Laurence Olivier as
Orlando. I am not quiet sure whether this play was danced in ballet, in
full or in excerpts. |
