Shakespeare Takes the Stage at Booth Ampitheatre

August 30, 2010 | Story by: Lindsey Chester | Categories: Featured, News, Theater

Story by Leslie Huffman. Photos by Karl Fisher.

Cary, NC – With a picnic and the company of my 11-year-old daughter (who is quite a thespian in her own right) I attended a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It was presented this past weekend at Koka Booth Amphitheatre amidst glorious weather on a stage that has mainly been the home for musicians and symphonies.

I was not sure what to expect, never having seen a play performed at this venue.  I wondered what the acoustics of the spoken word would be like from our lawn seats. I was also unsure how my daughter might perceive a production delivered in “middle English” a dialect I myself struggle with.

Lyman Collins, Town of Cary Cultural Arts Manager, came out to welcome the crowd. In celebration of 10th season, Booth Amphitheatre, welcomed Twelfth Night as its first full theatrical production.

A Comedy of Identity

Set in Illyria, the play is filled with gender politics, hidden identity, love and comedy.  Shakespeare’s comedies seem especially transportable to later time periods.  Director David Henderson’s production traveled to the post war era of 1945 using period costumes and music of the time.  Freshening up Shakespeare is nothing new, as in the 1996 film version of Romeo & Juliet featuring Leonardo DiCaprio.

But whatever the area, we still have all of the Bard’s words. Twelfth Night principle storyline is about Viola (Beth Popelka), who believes her twin brother Sabastian (Ryan Brock) is lost at sea. She dresses as a man to protect herself and becomes a go-between for the lovesick Duke Orsino (Zach Thomas), who is madly in love with the contemptuous Countess Olivia (Betsy Henderson).  As Viola poses as the boy Cesario, Orsino’s confidante, she falls for Duke Orsino.

Countess Olivia then becomes filled with desire for Cesario, a.k.a. Viola.

The comedy swirls around trickster Sir Toby Belch (Stewart Byham) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Jesse Gephart) and Olivia’s attendant Maria (Susannah Hough).  The group plots against the pompous steward Malvolio (Steven Roten) and makes him believe that his lady Olivia wishes to marry him, making him appear crazy to Lady Olivia.  In and out of the action appears Olivia’s favorite jester, Feste (Rasool Jahan), who is the very wise fool.

All the confusion climaxes when Sabastian returns making everyone see double of Cesario. Finally, Viola reveals she is really a female and that Sebastian is her lost twin brother.  The play ends with Olivia and Sabastian married and Orsino united with Viola.

The Venue

The view of the stage was great and the sound all around the lawn and crescent was perfect.  The performance was extremely entertaining and well done.  After some consultation with my daughter, we were both confused about some things, but I am in no position to critique Shakespeare.

Overall, a wonderful night of teatro al fresco!

See all the Shakespeare photos by Karl Fisher on Flickr.