New Manhattan-based theater company, Idle Playthings, is putting on Shakespeare's As You Like It live as a socially-distanced theatrical experience, where the location is only announced on the Wednesday beforehand.
Set in the not too distant future, when quarantine life and face masks around strangers has become commonplace in courtly life, two young would-be lovers are cast aside by their families. They run away from society with their friends and companions to find refuge in the forest of Arden. There, they happen upon a small collective of radical faeires and all find not only refuge, but their true selves in the sanctuary of nature. Inspired by the Public Theatre’s Mobile Unit, John Houseman’s The Acting Company, and guerrilla and court theatre, their goal is to bring timely adaptations of classical works and brand new original productions for the people to the people.
The show will be compliant with state-mandated social-distancing practices—actors will be wearing masks and face coverings and maintain 6 feet distance between each other and audience members for the duration of the performance. All shows are free to the public and seating will be socially distanced. The show will be done at King Jagiello Monument in Central Park on Saturday, September 12 at 2pm and Sunday, September 13 at noon.