Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Stanley Spenger
January 20 - February 18, 2006
Twelfth Night or What You Will is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–02 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season.
The play expanded on the musical interludes and riotous disorder expected of such an occasion, with plot elements drawn from the short story "Of Apollonius and Silla" by Barnabe Rich, based on a story by Matteo Bandello.
The first recorded performance was on 2 February 1602, at Candlemas, the formal end of Christmastide in the year's calendar. The play was not published until its inclusion in the 1623 First Folio.
The foretitle is believed to be an afterthought, created after John Marston premièred a play titled What You Will, Shakespeare's intended title for this play, during the course of the writing.
The title Twelfth Night, or What You Will, prepares the audience for its jovial feel of festivities consisting of drink, dance, and giving in to general self-indulgence. The subtitle What You Will implies that the audience is also involved in the merry spirit found in the play.
Cast
Curio, gentleman attending the Duke .................. Melanie Curry
Valentine, gentleman attending the Duke ...............Joseph Hirsch
Viola, sister to Sebastian.......................................Wendy Welch
A Sea Captain, friend of Viola..............................Jerome Solberg
Sir Toby Belch, uncle to Olivia.............................Norman Macleod
Maria, Olivia's woman............................................Melanie Curry
Sir Andrew Aguecheek............................................Leon Branton
Feste, a clown, servant to Olivia...........................Jerome Solberg
Olivia, a countess.....................................Sonya Kreiden-Karaim
Malvolio, steward to Olivia................................. Stanley Spenger
Antonio, a sea captain, friend to Sebastian..............Joseph Hirsch
Sebastian, brother to Viola..........................Adam D. Channel
Fabian, servant to Olivia...................................Adam D. Channel
Officers...................................... Melanie Curry, Stanley Spenger
Priest...................................................................Leon Branton
Orsino, Duke of Illyria ............................................ Eric Carlson
Production
Director.......................................................Stanley Spenger
Stage Manager..................................................Kim Stewart
Production Assistant...........................................Debbie Zike
Costumier...................................................Helen Slomowitz
Set Design/Scenic Artist............................Rose Anne Raphael
Lighting Design.......................................... Christine Dickson
Photography.................................................Christian Carter
House manager.................................................David Cohen
Box office.........................................................Bill Martinelli
Opening night gala.............................Margaret Gudmundsson
Postcard/graphic design....................................Wendy Welch
Publicity............................................................ Ralph Miller
Program design .................................Margaret Gudmundsson
Webmaster......................................................Wendy Welch
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Fabian (Adam D. Channel), Maria (Melanie Curry) and Sir Toby Belch (Norman Macleod) have fun at Andrew's (Leon Branton) expense. |
Is the clown (Jerome Solberg) being funny or sad? |
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Sir Toby Belch (Norman Macleod) plays a prank with Cesario (Wendy Welch) |