The Niles West Theatre Department premiered their rendition of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” on Thursday, Oct. 31. They will also have performances on Friday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. The play, a romantic comedy about love and identity, is performed in the Black Box Theater.
Production for “Twelfth Night” started in September. Crew members attended numerous meetings for costumes, lighting, props and scenic. Cast members memorized lines and blocked scenes in rehearsals. The show’s director Samuel Rosenfeld, is impressed by the work cast and crew members have put into the play.
“I’m really proud of this company. I’m proud of the work that they’re doing and how they’ve handled themselves. This is a big cast for a small show. It’s cool to see the upperclassmen help out the underclassmen and guide them through this process,” Rosenfeld said.
Shakespeare’s play was originally performed in 1602. While most of the dialogue remained the same, Niles West Theatre updated the production with a modern feel. Junior Emma Shimon enjoyed working on the show.
“The whole process was fun because this was the first major role that I’ve had in a while. With Shakespeare, it’s very interesting to study what they’re actually saying and how to transfer old Shakespeare to modern day,” Shimon said.
Crew members brought the story to life, turning the Black Box Theater into Shakespeare’s Illyria.
“I really got to bring my own ideas to life with this set which has been a really cool opportunity. Rose had completely different ideas than I did from the beginning, so we’ve come to a consensus with the set. It’s been a really cool experience getting to turn it to life,” Assistant Scenic Designer Sarah Lagowski said.
As the previous production “No Exit” was thespian exclusive, “Twelfth Night” introduced freshmen to the cast and crew. Returning company members welcomed new faces.
“It’s been a really great experience. Everybody’s made it so amazing and definitely a warm welcome,” freshman Dari Kandoalozhieva said.
Cast members have connected to the characters in the show. Sophomore Jamie Saxon-Joseph, who plays Viola, relates to her character.
“I’ve [found] who I am in Viola. I relate to her, her struggles with identity. It’s a lot easier to figure out who I am through her role and use her as a place to call back to,” Saxon-Joseph said.
Identity plays a major role in the story. Characters discover themselves throughout, with multiple plot twists occurring.
“It’s a show about figuring out who you are. In a lot of the show, Viola is disguising herself as a man. She finds power and a lot about herself through that. For me, it’s about love and finding yourself,” Rosenfeld said.
