Merely Players by Katherine Gwynn

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players—but what does it mean to play? "Merely Players" catches Rosalind in the midst of her epilogue in As You Like It, only to then turn the spotlight on Phebe, the lowly shepherd girl who fell in love with Rosalind in drag as Ganymede. Taking place in a single night, "Merely Players" raises questions about sexuality, sonnets,...
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players—but what does it mean to play? "Merely Players" catches Rosalind in the midst of her epilogue in As You Like It, only to then turn the spotlight on Phebe, the lowly shepherd girl who fell in love with Rosalind in drag as Ganymede. Taking place in a single night, "Merely Players" raises questions about sexuality, sonnets, gender, violence, dead deer, and love. It’s a trunkshow with a trunk that’s more than it seems, a show where the men are played by women, and a chance for Phebe to discover what being a player—and being free—really means.
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Merely Players

Recommended by

  • Gregory Berry:
    8 Sep. 2021
    “ I am currently directing this remarkable play. It is a play of depth and humor that examines the relationship of Phebe & Rosalind/Ganymede through a different lens. Phebe is the focal point of the play who challenges normative standards of gender. What is love? Who do we love and does it matter? I'm telling you more theatre groups should be doing this play; big, small, Shakespeare companies, universities, professional, amateur--just do it! Katherine Gwynn has written a play with longevity. You won't look at the Forest of Arden the same way again. I love it! ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    19 Mar. 2021
    “ A terrific exploration of Shakespeare that really speaks to the journey of learning to be free and welcome love! Wonderful! ”
  • Em Swenson:
    18 Nov. 2019
    “ I directed this piece, and it is one of the more brilliant pieces of modern theatre I have come across. Katherine was able to take a classic, and write a continuation that not only honored the form of Shakespeare, but also provided a modern lens. The way she approaches gender in Merely Players, which requires a cast of female and/ or non-binary people playing multiple genders, is refreshing and unique. The play somehow manages to explore every type of love: romantic, friendship, and familial; while also allowing each character to have their own personal journey. ”

Character Information

PHEBE – A shepherdess in the Forest of Arden. Incisive. To be played by a young woman.

ORLANDO – A lord, married to ROSALIND. Artless. To be played by the same actor that plays PHEBE.

ROSALIND – A lady of the court, cousin of CELIA. Artful. To be played by a young woman.

SILVIUS – A shepherd boy in Arden, married to PHEBE. Hungry. To be played by the same actor that plays ROSALIND.

CELIA – A lady of the court, cousin to ROSALIND, married to Oliver. Keen. To be played by a young woman.

JACQUES – Gentlemen of ROSALIND’s father’s court. Shrewd. To be played by the same actor that plays CELIA.

  • PHEBE
    20s-30s,
    Any
    ,
    Gender-fluid
    A shepherdess in the Forest of Arden. Incisive.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • ROSALIND
    20s-30s,
    Any
    ,
    Cis Woman
    A lady of the court, cousin of CELIA. Artful.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • CELIA
    20s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Cis Woman
    A lady of the court, cousin to ROSALIND, married to Oliver. Keen.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • ORLANDO
    20s-30s,
    Any
    ,
    Cis Man
    A lord, married to ROSALIND. Artless. To be played by the same actor that plays PHEBE.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • SILVIUS
    20s-30s,
    Any
    ,
    Cis Man
    A shepherd boy in Arden, married to PHEBE. Hungry. To be played by the same actor that plays ROSALIND.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • JACQUES
    20s-40s. ,
    Any
    ,
    No gender
    Gentlemen of ROSALIND’s father’s court. Shrewd. To be played by the same actor that plays CELIA
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Women and Theatre Program
    ,
    2015

Production History

  • Community Theater
    ,
    Outsiders Inn
    ,
    2021
  • Workshop
    ,
    Terra Femina Collective
    ,
    2019
  • University
    ,
    University of Kansas Theatre Department
    ,
    2015

Awards

Winner
,
Jane Chambers Student Playwriting Award
,
Women and Theatre Program at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education
,
2015