"As You Like It" is one of Shakespeare's comedies, which basically means everyone doesn't die at the end. It uses two setting the court and the forest of Arden where folks who have been banished from court have gone to hang out. Basically there's a disgraced Duke, the younger son of a deceased Duke, whose brother has refused to look after him, and then we add the daughter of a disgraced Duke, and her cousin who refused to let her lovely cousin be banished without her. There's some disguising oneself as a man, since two women wandering a forest seems a bit unsafe. And by the end there's been love, betrayal, redemption, and a little revenge.
This particular production, in a theater where one might have to walk by the US Capitol building to enter, used the duality of DC. The Capitol building representing the court, the federal DC, the place where decisions are made. And the more loved in parts of the city, with street murals, and people, Black people in particular, trying to live and support each other with the resources they have.
Folger has used DC as it's setting before, and I always enjoy seeing how they do it. The cast was wonderful. The costume design was fabulous and there was one pair of boots in particular that I personally want.
They commissioned some original songs for the show (yes, music, almost like a musical!) that added to the sense of community a merriment. All in all, it was a great time.
Note: I saw a masked performance. They were allowing food and drink in the theater, so masking was not consistent among patrons.
