Shakespeare Summer Nights Celebrates 20 Years with Twelfth Night
Comedy lightheartedly explores heavy themes
BEGINNING SUNDAY, JUL. 14
The Schuster Theater at Gannon University is celebrating 20 years of Shakespeare Summer Nights with their production of Twelfth Night, directed by Jordan Wolfe, a longtime veteran of Shakespearean theater. As usual, the magic will unfurl at the Lake Erie at Frontier Park Amphitheater, an intimate venue ripe for audience interaction.
The play follows the ploys of numerous suitors as they court the Countess Olivia, who ironically falls in love with Viola, a female messenger disguised as a male page. Chaos, of course, ensues.
"Twelfth Night is one of my favorites; it's very funny. I knew we had some strong actors in town who could make it sing," explains Wolfe. "It looks at loss and death in a way more telling than we as a society look at it. We tend to make humor out of it. In our darkest moments, society finds a way to make people smile when they're at their lowest. That's what this show does. It looks at humanity in a way that every choice made onstage forces somebody else's action."
Every production brings a unique spin to Shakespeare's settings, from the period piece of the 1996 BBC film adaptation to the contemporary setting for the National Theater's 2017 production starring Tamsin Grieg. Wolfe set this outdoor production in the 1920s, putting a jazzy twist on the classic story.
Every actor, too, brings something different to its signature roles. Hannah Richardson, who is playing the character of Lady Olivia in her Shakespearean debut, was particularly inspired by the 2009 production of Twelfth Night from Shakespeare in the Park.
"It's so nuanced and reminds me of Yentl with Barbara Streisand. A woman is disguised as a man and forges a relationship with another woman. I think it unpacks so much and shows the delicate relationship between Viola and Olivia. There's such an openness to the play and a willingness to take risks. It's like a childlike curiosity. It's really good that we can act on our impulses, take what is written, and make that manifest."
"Shakespeare is to theater as ballet is to dance and piano is to music," Jasse Camacho Vera (40 Under 40 class of 2023), who plays Sir Toby, describes eloquently. He previously played Duke Orsino in the 2020 production and was inspired by Luke Weyand's depiction of Toby from that production. "The laughter that [Sir Toby] is conveying to everyone is a mask to cover what he's actually going through. Drinking is his coping mechanism to get through the loss of his family."
Vera reflects on how relatable Sir Toby is to people, comparing him to comedians like Robin Williams. "He reflects many of the people we know today who are struggling who mask the pain behind humor. Some of the most impactful, comedic, lighthearted people do that because it's their shield. When playing Sir Toby, I am not only looking for the meaning of the Shakespearian dialogue, but I'm looking for the reason he is saying it beyond that. He's a very layered and relatable character."
Wolfe has a final message for audiences as excitement and anticipation grow with each rehearsal: "It is going to be a riot. Actors have been making bold choices since day one. They are large, loud, and big. Their story is universal, and it is a solid cast that is having fun. When actors have fun in the process of rehearsing the show, it will be a production worth seeing."
July 14 through July 17 // 7 p.m. // LEAF, 1501 W. 6th St. // Free // For more information: facebook.com/gannonschustertheatre
