Twelfth Night—Young Professionals Company—downtown Portland

 

“Lord, what Fools these Mortals be!”

    The Y/P Company of the Oregon Children’s Theatre presents this classic comedy of Shakespeare’s, directed and adapted by Lauren Bloom Hanover.  It is playing at the Brunish Theatre (upstairs), 1111 SW Broadway, through May 15^th (parking is a challenge in this area, so plan your time accordingly).  For more information on tickets and Covid restrictions, go to their website at www.octc.org or call 503-228-9571.(The production I was scheduled to review was cancelled because of a Covid outbreak with one of its members, so will write a preview of it instead, as knowing the story might help you understand the play and want to see it—check website for future dates).

    The Shakespearean stories and language are really not all that hard to understand.  I had a friend of mine, who had never seen the Bard’s plays, ask me, if it was going to be in English?  It’s not really a foreign language, folks, and the presentations of his works nowadays is pretty much in “conversational” Shakespeare.  Also, his themes are universal, having such modern incarnations as the award-winning musical, “West Side Story” (Romeo & Juliet) and the Sci-fi film classic “Forbidden Planet” (The Tempest).  In this latest version, six students play twelve roles.

    Love doth mirror Life and, thus, in reflection, Fools stare back at us. 

    In this incarnation of Cupid’s swift arrows, a shipwreck has occurred and Viola (Irie Page), fears that her twin brother, Sebastian (Ethan Thompson), to have been lost at sea.  To discover the truth in this alien atmosphere, she disguises herself as a boy, Ceasario, and eventually allies herself with Orsino (Nirmay Anantha), the Duke, who she is immediately smitten with.

    But the Duke only has eyes for the beauty, Olivia (Michaela Monteblanco), who has no interest in him but does seem to favor Ceasario, who has been sent by Orsino to her to plead his case for love.  Meanwhile Olivia has some very odd but witty servants, among them, the droll Malvolio (Thompson, again), a petulant steward (who has a bit of a crush on his mistress) and Maria (Sam Myerson), her assistant, a mischievous merrymaker, both of whom only add more heat to an already spicy stew. 

    And, if that wasn’t enough, Olivia has an uncle, Toby Belch (Anantha, again), a drunken nobleman, and his rich, fey friend, Andrew Aguecheek (Monteblanco, again), a rich buffoon.   A rather independent and persuasive musician, Feste (Elijah Castillo), a witty troubadour, seems to be our outside eyes, looking at the proceedings with cloaked optimism, and commenting on them, or partaking in them, when necessary, to route the story forward.  To say that things may end up in a muddle is an understatement.  And to relate too much more of the story would spoil the fun, but know that the slippery slope they tumble down will have a softer landing, being that they all may end up together…for better or worse.

    I have no doubtthat this will be an amazing production because I have followed OCT’s and Y/P’s progress for many years and I know the Education Director, Dani Baldwin, well and admire what she has done, and is doing, with students in her programs.  The teachings in her classes mirror the struggles the students are dealing with in real life and give them a safe haven in which to explore that world.  The plays they do also deal with real life issues and are not just “fluff” pieces.  What they learn about themselves, each other and the world at large, they will carry into adulthood, and be better human beings because of it!

    It's not so much what we see of the troubles in the outside world, but of what we don’t see, The Unknown, that is bothersome…“Ay, there’s the rub.”  In short, “there is nothing to Fear but Fear itself.”  I have no doubt that the worlds they explore in this environment will make them more capable of conquering any “darkness” they will encounter.  If a door closes on you, seek the open window for expansion…and then, breathe!

--DJS