‘As You Like It’ @ Stolen Shakespeare Guild
Photos by Bart and Jennifer Stewart
—Hannah Kneen
Stolen Shakespeare Guild is living up to their name this October—not just because it’s time for the company’s annual Shakespeare Festival, but because they’re presenting two of Shakespeare’s most famous and popular plays, with the comedy As You Like It playing in tandem with the tragedy of King Lear, each a wonderful example of their genre.
Whichever show (or shows) you choose to go to, the performers enter with an energy and excitement that fills the space of the theatre. It’s an intimate black box configuration with audience seating on three sides and a nice open space for the actors to perform in. And as I mentioned in my review of King Lear, the costumes (by Lauren Morgan) at Stolen Shakespeare Guild are absolutely gorgeous.
If you don’t know the plot of As You Like It, it centers around two young soon-to-be lovers, Rosalind (Molly Kessler) and Orlando (Raden Phillips). After a brief first meeting during which the couple are swiftly taken with each other, both characters are roughly exiled from their court and end up in the Forest of Arden — but separately, and accompanied by colorful characters. Neither of them know the fate of the other, or realizes they’ve both gone “into the woods.”
Rosalind, having been banished by order of her uncle — who some time ago usurped and exiled her father (the rightful Duke) — is accompanied by her cousin Celia (Faith Berry) and the court fool Touchstone (Ben Plopper). Orlando, having been persecuted by his own older brother, is accompanied by his ancient servant Adam (Nancy Lamb). The young couple do encounter one another in the forest, but there’s a slight snag: Rosalind has chosen to disguise herself as a boy, using the name Ganymede, in order that she and her cousin may travel safely. Still, Rosalind is a clever character and convinces Orlando to pretend ‘Ganymede’ is Rosalind so that ‘Ganymede’ can offer romantic advice to Orlando. This offers a great deal of opportunity for comedy, as might be expected.
Slowly, we meet more and more characters who are gathered in the forest for one reason or another. For example, there is a subplot involving a shepherd named Silvius (Benji Zavala) who is very much in love with a bad-tempered shepherdess named Phoebe (Lindsey Sinopoli). This being a Shakespeare play, hijinks ensue and Phoebe decides she can’t stand Silvius — but is quite taken with ‘Ganymede.’ As ‘Ganymede’ has promised ‘he’ would wed no woman, this causes some conflict, as you might imagine.
Kessler’s Rosalind and Phillips’s Orlando make a very cute couple, falling all over themselves as a result of their infatuation. Orlando puts me in mind of a puppy dog, all excitement and innocence. And while Rosalind’s clever twists and turns are often a driving force in this play, she has a sweet and funny side that comes out whenever she is feeling particularly smitten. Berry’s Celia also has a very fun dynamic with Rosalind, their friendship strong and capable of making even a terrible situation seem lighthearted.
But in a play rife with wonderful characters, my favorite has to be Lamb’s Adam. Her comedic timing was impeccable and she never failed to put a smile on my face. Though really, I was smiling through most of the play.
While the subplot with Silvius and Phoebe rarely plays well to modern audiences, nevertheless the play is a delight to see. It’s a great contrast to the deep themes and emotions of King Lear — and I must admit it was nice to sit back and enjoy a bit of lightheartedness after seeing the tragedy earlier in the day. The livelyk he cast of AYLI has a great sense of humor, and find all sorts of opportunities to add even more laughs to the comedy that Shakespeare offers us.
It would be hard not to like this show!
WHEN: October 9 to November 1, 2026
WHERE: 3623 Decatur Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76106
WEB: https://www.stolenshakespeareguild.org/
