There are several “Into the Woods”-type sequences in Shakespeare plays. Forests where his characters (often ostracized or a threat to the aristocracy) go to escape the vindictive wraths of ruthless leaders or plot against them. These are hideaways where lovers can be safe, where errant noblemen can be transformed, or women can find their inner strengths. These mystical places are where you can often discover Shakespeare’s most humorous playful side and lighthearted characters. 

One of the most imaginative productions you will ever see in this genre is Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” currently playing in the Thomas Theatre at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It is a delight for the senses — musically intriguing, energetically performed. It’s a kaleidoscope of music, color and poetry. A good part of it takes place in a forest called Arden. Thanks to a gifted creative team and the vision of Director Lisa Peterson, an imaginative dreamscape has been created in which familiar characters Orlando and Rosalind, Celia and Oliver, among others, discover one another and eventually find their bliss.

Thinking back to some of the better parts of the 1960s, it was an era of Renaissance fairs and folk music festivals. Hippies adorned themselves in flowers and luscious fabrics. Songs of awakening were everywhere. Remember, “Good morning starshine, the earth says hello!” from Hair? It was a time of renewal, reconnecting to nature, spiritual alchemy. This is what you will find waiting for you in this production. Director Lisa Peterson, scenic designer Tanya Orellana and costume designer An-lin Dauber are the trifecta of creativity for this Elizabethan love-in. Add in folk-inspired music, madrigal-inspired songs by composer/sound designer Paul James Prendergast with Sunny Min-Sook Hitt’s choreography, and you have magic.

It is one of Shakespeare’s sillier plots — one in which, once again, a woman is disguised as a man, and everyone is jockeying for a position as someone else’s mate. It is confusing until you realize there’s some heavenly-worded, philosophically profound prose here. For instance, most people are familiar with the poet Jaques’ utterance “All the world’s a stage.” But it continues: “And all the men and women merely players/They have their exits and their entrances/And one man in his time plays many parts/His acts being seven ages.” 

What fewer know is that these brilliant observations abound throughout the play, such as the jester, Touchstone’s pronouncement, “Time travels at different speeds for different people,” suggestive of Einstein’s theory of “time dilation,” three centuries before Einstein. These insightful observations on time and the human condition, cancel out the plot’s overly fanciful outcomes. Thank heavens.

To simplify the plot, it’s the story of a young woman, Rosalind, played by Nell Geisslinger, who is exiled from her uncle’s court after her father, Duke Senior (Al Espinosa), has also been banished. She (disguised as a man) runs away to the Forest of Arden with her cousin, Celia (Kat Peña), to escape the cruelty of said uncle, Duke Frederick (René Millán). At the same time, Orlando, a young nobleman played by Alexander Quiñones, escapes to the forest to get away from his older vindictive brother, Oliver, played in this production by Conner Neddersen. Living in this forest is a commune made up of a jester (David Anthony Lewis), a poet named Jacques (Sheila Tousey), and a group of shepherds, all of whom are a part of this strange menagerie. They are busy discovering themselves and each other. Talented cast members express love prose with spontaneity and offer some spirited songs.

“We that are true lovers run into strange capers,” says the jester Touchstone. Yes, in this production there are more than enough to go around. Like many of the Bard’s plays, it’s long, with maybe one too many characters opining about love and the human condition, but — these pale in comparison to the vibrant, entertaining nature of the prose and production itself.

Performances of OSF’s “As You Like It” are scheduled to run through Oct. 25, in the Thomas Theatre. Tickets start at $36. The OSF campus is located at 15 S. Pioneer St., Ashland. Showtimes, ticket prices and information available at osfashland.org or at 800-219-8161. Group discounts available.

Reach Ashland-based writer Lucie K. Scheuer at LucieScheuer19@gmail.com.