If music be the food of love, play on!
Shakespeare couldn’t have said it better. In fact, this is the opening line of The Bard’s play Twelfth Night, which will take the stage this week at Elkhart High School. While this will not be the first Shakespearean play to grace its venue, it will be the first for Mr. Nathan Berkey, who is beginning his tenure as director at EHS.
Opening night is Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. A second and final showing will be on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Both showings will be in the EHS auditorium. And, as with all other Shakespearean comedies, this plot entails a love story filled with humor and, of course, confusion.
At the center of this confusion is the main character is Viola, a young woman disguised as a man named Cesario, who’s caught in a tricky love triangle. Additionally, she is suffering the tragic loss of her brother Sebastian from a shipwreck. Then, there is Orsino–a nobleman who loves the wealthy Olivia. However, Olivia has a difficult love interest of her own but desires a change. Although the cast is relatively small, the action fills the stage.
Junior Lucille Kristoff was thrilled to be cast as Viola/Cesario. “It is super interesting [regarding] Viola’s intriguing story,” Kristoff states. “And [it will be] a challenge as to how well I could play a more feminine and masculine character in the show.” However, Kristoff is a seasoned pro on the EHS stage and savors each opportunity to do so. “It’s exhilarating, sharing a story in a unique way,” she confesses. “You’re doing things people might think are embarrassing, but you love what you can do–and it’s the best part of theater!”
Sharing her enthusiasm is Junior Grey Stutsman, who is cast as Antonio. “I auditioned for this role because I was interested in playing the part of the misunderstood character,” Stutsman begins. “I think this is the perfect part for me!” As with Kristoff, Stutsman is also a veteran of the stage. Taking on a Shakespearean role, she believes, will help her hone her craft. “Acting is my favorite thing to do!” she insists. “It feels natural performing and putting on a show for the audience.” However, Stutsman didn’t always feel that way. “I was nervous when I first started, but now I feel like I can do anything when I’m on stage.” Her primary goal now is to make the audience see her as Antonio, not a person playing the part of that character. It is only then that the story can come to life.
To that point, no role is a small role. It takes major and minor roles, as well as stage hands and tech crews to make the production complete. Junior Corgan Hammond understands this well. Having played all these parts in past productions, he is delighted to help bring a Shakespearean play to EHS. “I love the choice of Shakespeare,” Hammond exclaims. “He’s a popular example of theatre for a reason.” Continuing, Hammond explains. “He has phenomenal taste, and this play is certainly one of his lesser known pieces [to young audiences], so you might not know what to expect.” In school, students are more familiar with the Shakespearean tragedy: Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth. His comedies–such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and All’s Well That Ends Well–rarely make it into the classroom. Hammond is “hoping the audience enjoys the show after the hard work everyone has contributed. ” He is proud to “be part of something that is beautiful beyond words.”
