As You Like It geographical details are irrelevant. The Arden edition of Shakespeare makes the suggestion that the name "Arden" comes from a combination of the classical region of Arcadia and the biblical garden of Eden, as there is a strong interplay of classical and Christian belief systems and philosophies within the play. Arden was also the maiden name of Shakespeare's mother and her family home is located within the Forest of Arden. Love is the central theme of "As You Like It", like other romantic comedies of Shakespeare. Following the tradition of a romantic comedy, "As You Like It" is a tale of
Mary Mannering Mary Mannering Mary Mannering (April 29, 1876 – January 21, 1953) was an English actress, born in London. She studied for the stage under Hermann Vezin. She made her debut at Manchester in 1892 under her own name of Florence Friend. Born Florence Friend, she was the daughter of Richard Friend and Elise Whiting. She was induced by producer Daniel Frohman to come to New York in 1896. In the United States, she began playing as "Mary Mannering" (the maiden name of her father's mother). Mannering's American debut, in the title role in Henry V. Esmond's "The Courtship of Leonie",