Sample Activities / Learning Standards

Downloadable Production Guide (.pdf)

In Brief

Orlando, youngest son of a nobleman, has been denied his right to education and social status by his elder brother Oliver. He demands his portion of the inheritance and decides to “buy his fortunes.” To that end, Orlando accepts a challenge to wrestle the current champion, Charles. Oliver, meanwhile, arranges to have Charles “dispose” of Orlando during the match. Instead, Orlando wins the match and subsequently catches the eye of Rosalind, daughter of the deposed “Old Duke” whose brother, “New Duke” has usurped the throne.

Le Beau, a member of the New Duke’s court and a friend of Rosalind and the New Duke’s daughter, Celia, warns Orlando that the New Duke is in a nasty mood and doesn’t like the fact that the son of a former enemy has beaten his wrestler. Taking LeBeau’s advice, Orlando flees the city. Angered, the New Duke then banishes Rosalind. To his suprise, his daughter Celia chooses to leave with her cousin.

Soon, the Forest of Arden is filled with exiles; Orlando, Rosalind and Celia and the Old Duke. When Rosalind discovers that the secret admirer who is hanging love poems to her on all the trees is actually Orlando, she decides to disguise herself as a man and test Orlando’s love. Her plan backfires when Phebe, a country girl who is being unsuccessfully wooed by a country boy named Silvius, falls in love with Rosalind thinking her to be a man. "Simple” life in the woods soon unwinds all the political intrigues of the court and reconciles both lovers and brothers.