Twelfth Night
by William Shakespeare

"Splendidly choreographed, opulently costumed, and brilliantly acted." - Dr. Herbert R. Coursenread full review>

"...a show of consummate comic performances, fleetly paced, and flung with zingers." - Megan Grumbling,The Phoenix
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The 2009 summer season opens with a joyous production of Shakespeare’s delightful comedy of love and reunion, Twelfth Night. The play takes place in Illyria, where Duke Orsino is in love with the countess Olivia. However, Olivia has no interest in courtship because she’s in mourning over the loss of her beloved brother. Meanwhile, Viola has been shipwrecked in a violent storm off the coast and finds herself lost on the shores of Illyria. In the confusion of the storm, she lost her brother, Sebastian and fears he has drowned. She has heard of Duke Orsino and she disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, to gain entry into Orsino’s court. Orsino sends Cesario as his proxy to deliver love letters Olivia, who is also being suited by Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a sort of nutty, wealthy guest in Olivia’s household. Olivia becomes intrigued with the ‘boy’ Cesario. In turn, Cesario/Viola finds herself smitten with Orsino.

When Viola’s twin Sebastian returns, he is mistaken for Cesario by Olivia who then presses him to marry her. Olivia’s maid Maria, along with her uncle Toby Belch, the clown Feste, and the pompous Malvolio add twists and turns to the fun story, and in the end, almost everyone is happy. You won’t want to miss a minute of this intriguing mixture of Dukes, duels, clowns, mistaken identity and vows of revenge.

Directed by Janis Stevens (The Mystery of Irma Vep), this production will have the spirit of the great old movie comedies and a wonderful cast of TAM regulars including Mark S. Cartier, Bill Van Horn, and Dennis A. Price, Twelfth Night promises to be a night of entertainment that leaves you wanting more.

Approx. Run Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes. One 10 minute intermission.

Twelfth Night
Sponsored by: Christine & David Heckman