Stars Performing Arts

“If music be the food of love… play on!”

Luckily for us, music, food, and love were aplenty at Stars Performing Arts’s brilliantly playful production of “Twelfth Night.” The cast of teenagers delivered the timeless tale with hope, heart, and heaps of comedic panache.

Did I expect to see Sir Toby ignite a riveting duel with a plastic dinner fork? I did not.

But did I and the rest of the audience enjoy it?

1000% yes.

The Bard

William Shakespeare, world-renowned English poet of the Elizabethan era, penned “Twelfth Night” at the turn of the 17th century. His classic romantic comedy has it all: secrets, trickery, and a love triangle of ridiculous proportions.

Shakespeare dialogue is known for its brilliant lyrical structure, but let’s be honest: it’s pretty difficult for the average person to understand. I’m far from a Shakespeare buff myself (I’ve only read a few of his works for school), so I decided to go into this production of “Twelfth Night” completely blind.

I was curious to see how much of the plot I could pick up in the shoes of the average listener, and to my welcome surprise, I was easily able to follow the show from beginning to end!

The cast’s clear diction and performance not only made the sprawling plot of “Twelfth Night” easy to understand, but every bit of dialogue felt genuinely conversational. Alongside the deliberate intention of director Molly Marsh’s scene work, the audience’s eyes were constantly glued to the events onstage. Whether it incited a chorus of well-timed gasps or fits of laughter, each moment was impressively imagined and impeccably executed.

This Production

Something that made this production of “Twelfth Night” unique was its intimate atmosphere: performed at the Great Falls Grange, the audience got to participate in a dinner theatre experience. Theatregoers sat at an array of tables surrounding a black and-white-checkered central platform, which placed them at the focal point of the action. All situated along the backdrop of Sam Cole’s colorful lighting and Evelyn Foster’s tropical sound effects, the audience became completely immersed into the world of the play.

And by immersed, I mean literally immersed: actors often chased each other between tables or “borrowed” an audience member’s utensil to use as a prop. They even conversed directly with the audience in their roles as dining staff, while they delivered light refreshments throughout the evening.

To draw a teenage audience into the complex world of a Shakespeare play is no easy task… ask any highschool English teacher. But by sitting directly in the middle of the scene, the audience couldn’t help but be swept away to the city of Illyria.

Standout Performances

Sasha Wendell spearheaded the production as Viola, and brought incredible life to the character. Her vocal inflection brilliantly flowed to the tune of Shakespeare’s dialogue, and every one of Wendell’s expressions was bold enough to match the comedic events taking place. For example: the moment she realized she was in love with Duke Orsino, Wendell took a moment to contemplate… only for her face to light up in an expression of complete and utter shock, sending a series of laughs through the audience.

Michael Greco inhabited the shoes of Orsino with remarkable confidence and dignity. His effortlessly suave demeanor provided a great complement to Wendell, and the two waltzed among the tables in a riveting dance that entranced the audience.

Kathleen Tran played Olivia, and dove headfirst into the witty nature of her character. Her rapid exchanges with Wendell were riveting, as were her exasperations toward Greco; by the end of the story, her befuddled realizations were perfectly comical.

With a booming voice and unmistakable stage presence, Lilli McNerney added further to the comedy as Malvolio. Every cheeky smirk and smack of her lips was perfectly timed, and as her character’s lofty ego threatened to plummet, McNerney erupted into a side-splitting frenzy of rage.

No matter their role in the story, each member of the cast created a memorable character. From Amelia Marsh’s crafty performance as Martha to Allie MacDonald’s musical performance as Feste, each actor brought their own unique charm to suit the story. By the end, they all united around MacDonald for a final tune: the perfect heartwarming send-off.

Who Is It For?

Stars Performing Arts’s production of “Twelfth Night” was for avid Shakespeare fans and rom-com lovers alike. Not only did it provide an easy-to-understand rendition of the classic play, but it delivered an evening of laugh-out-loud comedy for audiences of all ages.

As the third official show from Stars Performing Arts, it’s incredible how consistently professional the company’s productions have been. Even better, each of their programs fosters a talented, tight-knit community of performers.

If you’re a teen (or know a teen) who loves theatre, check out theatrestars.org for upcoming audition and internship opportunities.

Twelfth Night