As You Like It

A displaced duke lives in pastoral exile while his daughter escapes the intrigues of court with a loyal cousin and takes refuge in a nearby forest, where several young lovers, a rustic clown, and a contemplative lord converge. Disguises and playful role‑playing set the stage for courtship, comic misunderstandings, and eventual reconciliations among siblings and rulers. Scenes alternate between urbane court life and the woodland’s simple routines to contrast social manners, probe gender and performative identity through cross‑dressing, and mix witty banter, songs, and contemplative monologues that reflect on love, melancholy, and the restorative possibilities of nature.