As You Like It focuses on characters who flee persecution and find themselves in the Forest of Arden. The play is set in late 1500s France, with palace scenes thought to take place in a duchy and forest scenes in the Forest of Arden. Costumes would reflect the simple, earthy tones of the forest versus the luxurious fabrics and colors of the palace. Key characters include Rosalind, who disguises herself as a man, Celia her devoted friend, Orlando who falls for Rosalind, and Duke Senior who finds peace in the forest in contrast to his brother Duke Frederick. Relationships and themes of love, time, and different lives in contrasting settings drive the plot.

1. As You Like It – Costume
Design
Andrea Segovia
PSID: 1172098

2. Historical Period of Play
 Late 1500’s to early 1600’s
 Palace scenes are thought to be in a part of France.
 Other scenes take place in the Forest of Arden.

3. Nature of Characters

Rosalind is the leader of the play really playing the girl who decides her fate in
the forest and of her friends. She also is the one to come up with the disguise
of being Ganymede who is a young man and gets to know more about
Orlando de Boys.

Duke Frederick is a person who is power hungry and wants to be in control of
the palace and all of the duties.

Celia is the best friend any person could dream of having. She has a good
heart and knows that her best friend Rosalind is counting on her. She has the
best heart and devotion to the people she cares the most about.

Orlando de Boys who falls in love with Rosalind seems to be at a rough place
in his life. Loosing his father and his brother not being there to be his support
is not helping.

Duke Senior is an easy going man who has fallen in love with the forest of
Arden and is now happy with his life.

4. Nature of Characters Cont.
 Adam who is Orlando's old servant stays faithful to him and
follows him after being exiled by his brother. He proves to be a
good friend and support system to Orlando in his time of need.
 Oliver de Boys reminds me of another Duke Frederick even after
his father tells him to take care of Orlando after his death and he
did nothing, he did the opposite and made him leave his home.
 Phebe is part of the community in the Forest of Arden who falls in
love with Ganymede and does not want to marry Silvius but after
talking to Rosalind she agrees that in any case she cannot marry
Ganymede she will marry him.

Silvius is just a young shepherd who is in love with Phebe who
does not have the same feelings but that does not stop him from
going after the person he loves.

5. Relationships between
Characters
 Duke Senior – his daughter Rosalind, Jaques a faithful
lord who stays with him in the forest.
 Silvius a young shepherd who loves Phoebe who does not
love him but in the end marries him.
 Audrey a goatherd from the forest marries Touchstone.
 Duke Frederick – his daughter Celia, Touchstone who is
part of his court and accompanies the girls to the forest.
 Sir Rowland de Bois – Oliver oldest son who loves Celia
and dislikes Orlando.

Orlando who is the youngest son and is exiled and goes to
the forest and falls in love with Rosalind.

Adam his former servant to his father goes to accompany him
in the exile journey.

6. Theme(s) of the Play
 Love – all of the young characters end up marrying
someone and even relationships between family
members gain better love.
 Time – this is always something that is ignored in
the forest and valued at the palace and in the play it
is always made a point to point out the time.
 Different lives these people live in the total opposite
settings.

7. Style of Production
 The style would be kept simple and stay along the
lines of the scenes in the play
 Earthy tons and basic clothing would be used in
scenes when the characters are in the Forest of
Arden
 Luxurious clothes such as silk and fabrics in the
cream colors of violet and light blues would be used
when characters are in the palace.

8. Costumes
These would be the types
of costumes for the
Forest of Arden scenes.
These would be the types of
costumes for the scenes in the
Palace.