As You Like It: a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare (1623)

As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The plays first performance is uncertain though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility.As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncles court accompanied by her cousin Celia to find safety and eventually love in the Forest of Arden. In the forest they encounter a variety of memorable characters notably the melancholy traveller Jaques who speaks many of Shakespeares most famous speeches (such as All the worlds a stage too much of a good thing and A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest). Jaques provides a sharp contrast to the other characters in the play always observing and disputing the hardships of life in the country.Historically critical response has varied with some critics finding the play a work of great merit and some finding it to be of lesser quality than other Shakespearean works. The play remains a favourite among audiences and has been adapted for radio film and musical theatre. The piece has been a favourite of famous actors on stage and screen notably Vanessa Redgrave Juliet Stevenson Maggie Smith Rebecca Hall Helen Mirren and Patti LuPone in the role of Rosalind and Alan Rickman Stephen Spinella Kevin Kline Stephen Dillane and Ellen Burstyn in the role of Jaques. The play is set in a duchy in France but most of the action takes place in a location called the Forest of Arden. This may be intended as the Ardennes a forested region covering an area located in southeast Belgium western Luxembourg and northeastern France or Arden Warwickshire near Shakespeares home town which was the ancestral origin of his mothers family-who incidentally were called Arden.Frederick has usurped the duchy and exiled his older brother Duke Senior. Duke Seniors daughter Rosalind has been permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend and cousin of Fredericks only child Celia. Orlando a young gentleman of the kingdom who at first sight has fallen in love with Rosalind is forced to flee his home after being persecuted by his older brother Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and banishes Rosalind from court. Celia and Rosalind decide to flee together accompanied by the court fool Touchstone with Rosalind disguised as a young man and Celia disguised as a poor lady.Rosalind now disguised as Ganymede (Joves own page) and Celia now disguised as Aliena (Latin for stranger) arrive in the Arcadian Forest of Arden where the exiled Duke now lives with some supporters including the melancholy Jaques a malcontent figure who is introduced weeping over the slaughter of a deer. Ganymede and Aliena do not immediately encounter the Duke and his companions. Instead they meet Corin an impoverished tenant and offer to buy his masters crude cottage.