GW TRDA's Twelfth Night is a Night to Remember

BY, DZHULETTA AVANESIAN 

The Department of Theatre & Dance preformed William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Oct. 31 through Nov. 3 in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theater. The audience of more than 100 people found the show to be humorous and well done. Shakespeare’s 17^th century comedy was performed by both students majoring or minoring in theater and nonminors. It was the second show of the 2013-2014 MainStage season. Many members of the GW theater community including students with the Generic Theatre Company and 14 Grade Players attended in support of their peers.   

“It’s hilarious and it’s really funny and it’s still funny even 400 years after it was written,” said Henry Morillo, who played Sir Andrew. His family came from Miami to watch the play.

Twelfth Night is set in Illyria, Croatia on the Dalmatian coast. It follows a nobleman named Orsino who enjoys listening to music and is away from his love, Lady Olivia. Highlights of the play are its romantic scenes and humorous content. Although it is a classic, participants found it to be relevant to modern society. 

“I think Shakespeare’s stories are very timeless, especially his tragedies and comedies. He talks a lot about the human condition even it is 400 years old, it still very present to the audience today,” says Bekah Eichelberger, the actress who played Maria. 

GW continued the theatrical tradition of reviving Shakespeare’s archaic language and jokes. The cast performed in front of a sold out audience on its Halloween opening night. The director, Bill Largess, has 30 years of experience in the Washington theater community.  

 

“I like the most all of the physical comedy, there is so much opportunity to take advantage of the comic situation that Shakespeare put together and express that with all the physical fun and slapstick,” he said.

Overall, it was a success with both cast and audience members. “The key to Shakespeare for people to get it is to find those base levels for your characters, who can an audience identify with and the language is nice, flows beautifully, pleasure to say and you really feel that you are part of this great tradition when you do it,” said student actor Matt Nickley.

The next MainStage production will be the department's first dance performance of the year, entitled Fall DanceWorks 2013. It is a series of student, faculty, and guest choreographed pieces featuring student dancers and runs Nov. 14-Nov. 17.

 All Photos Courtesy of The Department of Theatre and Dance Promotion Office 

Department information at: theatredance@gwu.edu