A grandfather and his 10 year old grandson sit quietly in the den. The boy is sitting on the floor near a box of his toys. The grandfather is quietly reading. After a good while…

Boy: Grandpa, I'm bored.

The grandfather looks up from his book.

Boy: What else is there to do?

Grandfather closes the book he's reading. It is clearly marked as a collection of Shakespeare plays.

Boy: What's that you're reading?

Grandfather: A play. By William Shakespeare.

Boy: That doesn't sound very fun…. (pause) Is that fun?

Grandfather: Depends.

Boy: On what?

Grandfather: On how deeply you let yourself get involved in the story. On whether you have a good imagination.

The boy jumps up and sits with his grandfather.

Boy: I do!

Grandfather: Well then…. how about something scary?

Boy: Not scary.

Grandfather: Oh okay. When you're older…. there are a couple of really scary ones. But for right now, how about As You Like It?

Boy: Sounds good!

Grandfather: Now remember, you have to think very creatively. I have an extremely vivid imagination, and I don't want you to get left behind.

The little boy giggles.

Boy: Oh grandpa…. you're just being silly.

At this, the boy takes the book from his grandfather. As he opens it to the place where As You Like It Is bookmarked, the stage is suddenly flooded with all of the characters from the play! They surround the chair where the boy and his grandfather are sitting.

Grandfather: Hold on just a second…

Grandfather snaps the book shut. The rabble quiets down, but stay around the chair. The boy's eyes are the size of saucers.

Grandfather: Their dying to have their story told.(To the rabble.) All things in good time.

There is a collective groan of disappointment, as the rabble retreats. All except one handsome young man named Orlando.

Grandfather: Are you ready?

The little boy nods his headed excitedly. From somewhere, ominous music underscores this narrative. Perhaps we see the musicians who wave to the little boy. Anytime it is appropriate (or not) the musicians play.

Grandfather: Once upon a time, in a far off land, there lived an evil duke, named Frederick. He came to power by stealing it from his brother. Frederick stole his brother's land and title. Then he did the worst thing ever, he banished him.

Boy: What's banished?

Grandfather: Kicked him out!

Boy: Oh!

Grandfather: With the new Duke in charge, no one was happy. As fall moved towards winter, the long nights filled the halls with growing darkness. This was not a pleasant place to live. And the Duke's menacing power spread. Specifically, this mean spirit spread to the sons of the late Sir Rowland DeBoys: Orlando, Oliver and Jacques.

Upstage of Orlando, who has been standing there all along, lights come up, first on Oliver, then on Jacques.

Grandfather: Before his death, Sir Rowland told his oldest son Oliver that he was in charge. He was suppose to take good care of his brothers. But he didn't. Oliver sent his middle brother Jacques away to school.

Oliver hands Jacques a school bundle. Jacques exits.

Grandfather: … but for his youngest brother, Orlando, he did nothing. No education, no money, no plays, nothing.

Lights out on Oliver.

Boy: That's not very nice.

Grandfather: It gets even worse. One day Orlando snaps and he tells his old servant Adam how mad he is.

Grandpa puts on a hat or costume piece to become Adam. Orlando moves down to the chair and lifts grandfather up and addresses him. The grandson watches.

ORLANDO:
As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will, but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou sayest, charged my brother on his blessing to breed me well: and there begins my sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks goldenly of his profit. For my part, he keeps me rustically at home. His horses are bred better. This is it, Adam, that grieves me, and the spirit of my father, which I think is within me, begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it.

Oliver enters from the shadows.

ADAM:
Yonder comes my master, your brother. (Grandfather to the little boy…) Hide boy!

With this the grandson pulls his grandfather's chair downstage into the shadows. He uses it to hide, while clutching the copy of As You Like It.

ORLANDO:
Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up .

Grandfather moves to hide where his grandson is. He gives him the "shhhh" sign.

OLIVER:
Now, sir, what make you here?

ORLANDO:
Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing.

OLIVER:
Marry sir, be better employed, and be naught a while.

ORLANDO:
Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should come to such penury?

OLIVER:
Know you where you are, sir?

ORLANDO:
O sir, very well: here in your orchard.

OLIVER:
Know you before whom, sir?

ORLANDO:
Aye, better than he I am before knows me. I know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle condition of blood you should so know me. I have as much of my father in me as you; ......
(Adaption of As You Like It Copyrighted © 2006 by Doug Finlayson)