BCTC gives modern twist to Shakespeare

By Taylor Studdard, COM 301
Edited and Posted by Briona Arradondo

The glamour of 1930s old Hollywood and a blissful Monte Carlo coastline set the mood of this year's production of William Shakespeare's comedy, "Twelfth Night." The Berry College Theatre Company approached the comedy with unique flair, giving the stage a modest set and elaborate 1930s costumes in contrast to the original Shakespearean era.

“We placed it in the 1930s to bring it to a more modern audience," said Stephanie Carter, an assistant stage manager. "It’s a little less distracting to see people in clothes from the 1930s than Shakespearean style with wigs and all.”

Junior Lyndsay Ricketson plays, Feste the jester, in "Twelfth Night."
Photo courtesy of Lyndsay Ricketson

Dr. John Countryman, director of "Twelfth Night" and an associate professor of theatre, said he enjoys and appreciates the different kinds of love and foolishness in the show. He said he gave the actors the option to develop their characters differently from the original play. Some actors gave their characters accents to emphasize the international feel of Monte Carlo. They also used animated characterization and body language to communicate the comedic elements of the show.

“Altogether we have made this piece of Shakespeare accessible to everyone. It’s not just for an English major. It has comedy on all levels,” said Carter.

To aid in the situational comedy present in "Twelfth Night," the theater is constructed as a thrust stage, placing the audience on three sides of the action. The actors entered different scenes from the side hallways of the audience, inviting the viewers to experience the play firsthand.

“It requires a lot from the audience because they can’t just sit back and expect it to wash over them,” said Countryman.



The show is about twins, Viola, played by Heather Bucsh, and Sebastian, played by Ian Alexander. While at sea, Viola and Sebastian get into shipwreck and both survive, but Viola thinks her brother is dead. Coming ashore to Illyria, she dresses like her brother Sebastian and gives herself the name Cesario. She then begins to work for Duke Orsino of Illyria who is in love with Olivia. Orsino sends Viola to express his love for Olivia on his behalf, but Olivia falls in love with Viola instead. Confusion and mistaken identity attribute to the play's comedic elements, driving the climatic conclusion.

Countryman said he was very proud of how easily his students picked up the Shakespearean language.

“Learning how to express Shakespeare’s words in what seems to be very convoluted sentences was by far the biggest hurdle I had to face,” said Alexander.

The 20 cast members ran the production from April 17 to April 20 and April 24 to April 27. Some actors included: Joseph Thornton as Orsino, Emma Harr as Olivia, Robert Armstrong as Sir Toby Belch, Keith Brooks as Malvolio, Lyndsay Ricketson as Feste, Jordan Bowman as Fabian and Jordan Coleman as Sir Andrew Aguecheek.

"Twelfth Night" is a classic and still enjoyable today because the world is still "topsy-turvy" and people can still be in love with love, said Countryman.