Things are not going well. After a bitter and hostile new regime takes over The Court, best friends Rosalind and Celia decide their only option is to escape the corrupting influence of wealth and power by heading to Arden, a neighboring community filled with the exciting possibility of love, family and connection. There, they encounter fools, lovers, friends, exiles, philosophers and musicians—and undertake a journey of self-discovery longer than the subway ride they took to get there.
While Shakespeare’s 1599 romantic comedy offers a series of mistaken identities, witty banter and humorous situations that explore themes of love, self-discovery and the transformative power of nature in the Forest of Arden, Smith Street Stage’s As You Like It is set in modern-day New York City, bringing a fresh queer perspective to a timeless comedy. Tobias Wong's fusion of original rootsy, newgrass music creates a relatable backdrop of New York City, juxtaposing the ambitious and binary world of finance and politics as represented by the Court, with the liberated, queer-affirming and community-oriented atmosphere of Arden, an outer borough enclave. This immersive and site-specific experience offers representation for some spectators and a unique blend of intellect and entertainment for theater enthusiasts of all ages.
