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Civic Theatre makes Shakespeare fun and
easy to understand
By
Michelle Barbercheck
Special to the News-Review
No matter how many times one has
seen the same Shakespearean play over and over; each performance differs
uniquely by its cast and direction. Like a parent with many children, the true
fan loves each performance equally, but for different reasons.
That being said, then the Little Traverse Civic Theatre's presentation of
Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" would likely rank as any parent's golden
child.
The theatre group's opening night presentation of one of Shakespeare's
more amusing productions played to an enthusiastic crowd at Crooked Tree Arts
Center in downtown Petoskey Thursday. Performances will continue through this
weekend and will also be held next weekend, July 28-31.
Written near the middle of Shakespeare's career around 1601,
"Twelfth Night," also called "What You Will," is considered
one of his greatest comedies, written in his signature blend telling a tale of
illusion, deception, madness and the extraordinary measures that true love
evokes. The play is also categorized by some scholars as one of Shakespeare's
so-called, "transvestite comedies," along with "As You Like
It" and "The Merchant on Venice" in that they feature female
protagonists who, for whatever reason, must disguise themselves as young men.
The play opens with twin siblings, Viola, played by Susan Brown, and
Sebastian, played by Patrick Schaller; being shipwrecked off the coast of an
imaginary country called Illyria. The twins escape the disaster; however; become
separated with each believing the other to be dead. Thinking she would survive
more easily in "a man's world" if she looked like one, Viola cuts her
hair, dresses like a man, changes her name to Cesario and enters service of a
local Duke, Orsino, played by Jerry Christin.
Orsino is smitten with the lovely young countess, Olivia, portrayed by
Rebecca Sand, however, she scorns his advances so he sends Cesario to court her
on his behalf. Olivia meanwhile falls madly in love with Cesario, who soon
realizes that she is in love with Orsino herself.
The love triangle ensues while a second story line explores the goings-on
in Olivia's household, where the countess' drunken uncle, Sir Toby Belch, played
by Chris Schaedig, her maid, Maria, played by Jan Salisbury, a dandified noble,
Sir Andrew Aguecheek, played by Matthew Migo, and a rotund entertainer named
Feste, played by Taylor Carlston, all plot the downfall of Olivia's villainous
steward, Malvolio, played by Gary Albert.
The Little Traverse Civic Theatre's production is expertly cast with each
actor enthusiastically embracing the nuances of his or her character with
great aplomb under the direction of Bill Salisbury.
While every cast member's performance is noteworthy in this
production, particularly stellar portrayals are offered by Sand, as the
captivating Olivia, and Jan Salisbury, who bring a touch of Broadway to the
Petoskey stage with their remarkable acting talents.
Gary Albert also gives a spot-on and convincingly creepy-yet-darkly
humorous performance as Malvolio, while Migo's comedic portrayal of Sir
Aguecheek at times carries the show.
Overheard during intermission was how this acting troupe actually seems
to make one of Shakespeare's plays fun and easy to understand, when so often the
language and actors in his plays are difficult to follow.
This could not be better said.
The Little Traverse Civic Theatre's performance of Shakespeare's
"Twelfth Night" is certainly well worth the ticket price and
guaranteed to bring smiles to young and old.
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