Marriotts Ridge - Twelfth Night

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Bricker on November 30, 2009 at 3:54pm

Shakespeare’s classic tale of mistaken identities, spiteful servants, and star-crossed lovers collided with the over-caffeinated, neon-colored world of modern Hollywood to fantastic effect in Marriotts Ridge High School’s charming and quirky production of Twelfth Night.

Modern-day Los Angeles, a town where image is everything and disguises are everywhere, is a perfect fit for Shakespeare’s tale of deception and romance. Delightful pop culture references littered the show- Starbucks, Vitamin Water, Snuggies, and iPhones not only updated but enhanced the production, making the classic show sparkle with a newfound wit. Along with the twenty-first century flourishes, the actors embraced the script’s archaic language and positively surged with energy, allowing the show to truly become accessible and entertaining for a modern audience.

When a storm destroys their ship, two twins, Viola and Sebastian (Hayley Fremuth and Stephen Henderson), wash ashore in the strange land of Illyria, Los Angeles. Believing that her brother is dead and fearing for her own safety, Viola disguises herself as a boy and joins the “man-cave” of Duke Orsino (Reed Deslisle). Orsino soon sends Viola to court the beautiful Olivia (Caitlin Ratzlaff), unaware that the new “man” is quickly falling for the Duke himself. Olivia, however, only has eyes for Orsino’s witty emissary, and soon the three are embroiled in a cross-dressed, star-crossed love triangle, aided and abetted by Olivia’s conniving servants.

As Viola, Fremuth displayed a precocious wit and impeccable comic timing. She delivered both poignant asides and witty jokes with a natural ease, and effectively embodied her male alter ego, Cesario, with a delightfully awkward physicality and a pleasant feminine touch. Caitlin Ratzlaff imbued the ditzy pop star Olivia with an airy demeanor that was never overpowering; instead, she transcended the character’s inherent shallowness with a subtle and emotionally resonant performance.

Brian Gilbert, as Olivia’s hired Fool, charmed with agile acrobatics, high energy, superb comedic delivery, and a mellifluous singing voice. Whether strumming a ukulele, imitating a priest, or dancing like a madman, Gilbert’s relentlessly high energy and natural grace picked up the show whenever energy seemed to be flagging. Drew Belsinger, as the Fool’s foil, the sanctimonious Malvolio, was a delight. Belsinger fully embraced the show’s more ludicrous aspects and showcased them with relish.

Requiring numerous set and scene changes, Twelfth Night is a demanding technical piece. The crew at Marriotts Ridge fully embraced the challenge. The set, consisting of five reversible wall pieces, effectively created a plethora of scenes, from an L.A bachelor pad to a moonlit garden. Shifts between these scenes were quick and efficient. Playing with a variety of colors and transitions, Terry Paul’s lighting design truly helped capture the silly mood of the show.

When talented actors, an effective production crew, and a refreshing display of creativity come together, the results are truly spectacular. In Marriotts Ridge High School’s production of Twelfth Night, theatre becomes, as Orsino would put it, “the food of love.” Play on.

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Patchan on November 30, 2009 at 7:09pm

Laptops, iPods, Pop Princesses, and Vitamin Water- not exactly what comes to mind when you think of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth night,” is it? The drama department at Marriotts Ridge High School presented this timeless comedy with a modern twist inspired by contemporary Hollywood.

This complex play follows the stories of Viola and Sebastian, twins separated by a terrible shipwreck. Viola, fearing for her safety, disguises herself as a boy and secures a job in Duke Orsino’s house. The Duke sends her out to woo the beautiful Lady Olivia for him; however, Olivia falls in love with Viola’s male exterior, while Viola, still masquerading as a boy, finds herself falling for the Duke. In the mean time, a scheming group of tricksters fool Malvolio, Olivia’s steward, into thinking she’s in love with him. And then Sebastian turns up…

The difficult language of Shakespearean times often poses a problem for high school, as well as experienced, actors. However, the entire cast appeared to understand the meaning of every word they spoke. Most lines were delivered with great clarity and emotion, which helped the audience to understand what was happening even if they could not understand the Elizabethan vocabulary.

Hayley Fremuth did an outstanding job as Viola. She successfully showed the inner struggles of her character’s love for Orsino and her need to remain in disguise. Fremuth was completely in character and was very believable as a female and as a male. Her slightly masculine stance and posture helped make her alter ego, Cesario, endearing and amusing. Reed Delisle’s portrayal of Orsino was charming. Delisle’s range of emotions, from his undying love for Olivia to his anger at Cesario, helped make his character realistic. Fremuth and Delisle were delightful together, and their awkward romantic tension was adorable.

One of the show’s strongest points was undeniably Brian Gilbert’s portrayal of Feste, the Fool. His over-the-top gestures, facial expressions, and reactions to everything that happened on stage were hilarious. His ukulele and his beautiful singing also really helped add to his crazy character. Gilbert’s most memorable moments occurred with Sir Toby Belch (John Mynaugh) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Alex Woodhead). The trio fed off of each other’s energy, producing an amazing chemistry such that their drunken singing and dancing kept the audience constantly laughing.
The set was very creative and intriguing. The double-sided panels were turned around to instantly bring the stage to a whole new location. Although the microphones were too loud at times, the volume of the music in between scenes was perfect. The background music in some scenes helped the audience understand how a character was really feeling. The modern day songs, and well as the bright, Technicolor lights, kept the audience entertained even throughout the scene changes.

Although Viola may be in disguise, there is no hiding the wonderful creativity Marriotts Ridge brought to the stage.

Permalink Reply by Sara Pecas on November 30, 2009 at 10:17pm

Cross-dressing, suppressed passion, revenge, and mistaken identities. . . .Sounds like the cover of a tabloid magazine!

Marriotts Ridge’s drama department took Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and put it in the midst of Hollywood’s elite in the 90210. When shipwrecked Viola finds herself in Illyria, Hollywood, she believes that her brother Sebastian has drowned. Disguising herself as a boy named Cesario, she goes to work for the Duke. The duke is madly in love with Olivia so he sends Cesario to attempt to win Olivia's affections for him. Instead, Cesario becomes the object of Olivia's lustful attention. As the play progresses Viola finds herself in love with the Duke. Add in a plot against Olivia's steward Malvolio, another suitor for Olivia, and Sebastian's inevitable arrival and things just get more complicating.

Talented actors and a hard working crew helped contribute to an enjoyable performance. Stephen Henderson (Sebastian) and Hayley Fremuth (Viola) looked similar and had great chemistry the few times they were together. Fremuth made a very convincing boy while staying in touch with her feminine side, making moments with the Reed Delisle (Duke) awkward and entertaining for the audience.

The Brian Gilbert (Fool/Feste) was a crowd favorite with his singing and humorous moments. When he was accompanied by Alex Woodhead (Sir Andrew) and John Mynaugh (Sir Toby) there was never a dull moment on stage. Drew Belsinger (Malvolio) also left a lasting impression with his cockiness, hideous attire, and graceful scooter riding.

Although this play requires a lot of scene changes, the shift crew acted efficiently and the shifts were made enjoyable with lights and music. The music also helped portray the time period and fit along with the storyline. The sound crew and actors relied a great deal on microphones. Those without microphones were hard to hear but those with microphones could be heard perfectly.

The costumes and sets helped emphasize the setting of present day Hollywood. The actors wore clothes that one would find in a fashion magazine. Caitlin Ratzlaff (Olivia) dressed like a pop star with outrageous pink hair and a rhinestone “O” on the back of her outfits. Each actor had cell phones, laptops, or Starbucks cups. Even with difficult Shakespearean language, the entire cast used these modern day props to better explain what was going on.

"If music be the food of love, play on." In Marriotts Ridge’s production, it should be, “If theatre be the food of love, play on. “

Permalink Reply by Caity Wallace on December 1, 2009 at 4:58pm

Every time a new TV show about hip, angsty young teenagers airs, someone snarky in the audience has to comment. "That would never happen," they say. "What happened to traditional plots and themes?" Perhaps in response to these critics, Marriott's Ridge High School showed Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with a modern twist, demonstrating that drama and awkard love triangles are as old as tights and codpieces.

Twelfth Night starts with twins Viola and Sebastian on a ship that then wrecks, leaving Viola (Hayley Fremuth) alone and lost in Illyria. She decides to dress as a man, "Cesario," to get a job with the Duke Orsino (Reed Delisle). The Duke sends "Cesario" to woo Countess Olivia (Caitlin Ratzlaff), his love, who has yet to return any of his advances. But "Cesario" is so skilled at flattery and wordplay that Olivia falls in love with "him". And, of course, Viola is in love with the Duke. Meanwhile, Olivia's servants and her uncle Sir Toby (John Mynaugh) play tricks on each other and Viola, not knowing that Viola's lost brother Sebastian (Stephen Henderson) is in town.

The most immediately striking element of this production is the setting: modern Los Angeles. The nobles were portrayed as celebrities, the shift changes incorporated top 40 songs, and plans were coordinated with cell phones. This made the action of the play easy to follow for the non-Shakespeare buffs in the audience, while keeping true to the plots and themes of the play. The setting had the added effect of underscoring how enduring gender stereotypes are in society.

The real success of Twelfth Night lay in the acting, however. Every actor on stage was drop-dead amazing. Fremuth especially. When in her male costume, she dropped her voice a little, which had the effect of making her lines sound extra witty and fun. This contrasted wonderfully with her tender, vulnerable tone when she explained to the Duke how women love. Delisle as the Duke brought depth to a relatively flat character, making the Duke a highly stressed businessman with bad luck in love and immense trust in "Cesario." Ratzlaff's Olivia meshed perfectly into the celebrity atmosphere of the production. Each of the servants was hilarious in their own way, but top props go to Brian Gilbert as the Fool and Mynaugh as Sir Toby, whose drunken plotting were interspersed with brilliantly timed comedy.

The tech crew did a nearly perfect job with the production. For a few moments, the sound was painfully loud, but that was swiftly remedied, and the rest of the show was spot-on. The play has 17 scene changes, which would have made for a disjointed show if it hadn't been for the music and lights distracting the audience without pulling them out of the show.

All in all, Twelfth Night was a perfect blend of high quality acting and easy to access humor.

Permalink Reply by Kyla Sokoll-Ward on December 3, 2009 at 8:40pm

Unrequited love can be upsetting, but loving a gentleman who is secretly a lady is just plain humiliating. Mistaken identities, massive shipwrecks, and Miley Cyrus all help Marriotts Ridge High School craft William Shakespeare’s hilarious classic, Twelfth Night.
After a colossal shipwreck, twin siblings Viola and Sebastian are separated. Viola washes up in Illyria and assumes the identity of a young man, Cesario. “Cesario” is instructed by Duke Orsino to help him woo the beautiful Olivia who is mourning over the death of her brother. Olivia falls not for Orsino, but for Cesario. Cesario, who is secretly Viola, falls for Orsino. Amidst the confusing love triangle are the three merry men: Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and the Fool. These characters cause ruckus among Olivia’s attempted period of mourning, against the will of Olivia’s attendant, Maria.
Marriotts Ridge took an interesting twist to the classical production by setting the play in modern Los Angeles. Fresh music and iconic merchandise of the present generation such as Vitamin Water, Starbucks coffee, and Snuggies entertained the audience as well as making the plot and characters easier to connect with.
As Viola, Hayley Fremuth accurately portrayed her girlish attraction to Orsino while attempting to awkwardly ward off the affections of Olivia. Fremuth charmed the audience in her touching reuniting with Sebastian, played by Stephen Henderson. Maria, played by Alli Kahan, demanded attention with her high energy and wonderful reactions throughout the performance. Drew Belsinger’s flamboyant impression of Malvolio, Olivia’s steward, was well-received by the audience as he glided across the stage on scooters or made elaborate entrances wearing an animal-print Snuggie. As the Fool, Brian Gilbert used acrobatics and brilliant physicality to help reveal his lively and quirky character. Gilbert collaborated with John Mynaugh and Alex Woodhead as the three merry men. The ensemble’s energy was consistent and their drunken hilarity, with an added touch of singing, delightfully accented the action of the play.
The technical crew never failed to make an efficient shift or cue a modern song between scenes. The shift crew, consisting of both actors and techies, soared through each set change with notable ease and swiftness. Many scene changes occur throughout the show, and each was made enjoyable with popular music and colorful lighting. The sets, elaborate and realistic, were complete with lit panels and contemporary furniture. While there were occasional sound issues, the actors never broke character if a song skipped a beat.
Topping off the performance was a high-energy dance number that concluded the excitement of the plot. Between cell phones, sweater slippers, and iambic pentameter, the Marriotts Ridge theatre department has permission to “play on”!

Permalink Reply by David Kaiser-Jones on December 5, 2009 at 6:46pm

Nothing says “Shakespeare” like Razor scooters, fluorescent bottles of Vitamin Water, and Snuggie blankets. Nothing screams “Elizabethan Epiphany celebration” quite so succinctly as flashing disco lights, throbbing Miley Cyrus music, and Bollywood dancing. Viola is shipwrecked in 2009 on the shores of Illyria, Los Angeles, in Marriotts Ridge’s production of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
When Viola is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria, she assumes a male identity, the name of Cesario, and a position as a servant in the household of Duke Orsino. The Duke uses her as a messenger to the object of his affection, Lady Olivia, who is mourning the loss of her brother and her father, but Olivia falls for Viola and Viola falls for Orsino. Meanwhile, the members of Olivia’s household drive the pompous steward Malvolio into insanity by sending him love letters with bizarre instructions that imply that Olivia wishes his hand in marriage.
The entire cast fully embraced the jump to modern-day United States in their mannerisms and inflections, through they delivered the original Shakespearean lines. The actors delivered their turn-the-seventeenth century lines with turn-of-the-twenty-first century inflection.
Hayley Fremuth (Viola) played Cesario as described in the script—not quite a boy and not quite a man, but with all her feminine wiles about her. Drew Belsinger (Malvolio) brought his character from high points, as haughty master of the house, to frumpy lows, as when he bent the space to pathetically talk to the Fool from the confines of a dark cellar.
John Mynaugh (Sir Toby Belch), Alex Woodhead (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), and Brian Gilbert (Fool), as members of Olivia’s household, exuded revelry and fraternity and played off each other to extract the wit from each line. Gilbert, as the wandering, almost omniscient Fool, pranced across the stage singing and descended into furniture with sugar-sweet suavity, yet he later enacted expedient, enthusiastic, almost malicious revenge on Malvolio.
Although the beginnings and ends of the scene change music were sloppy at times, the actors, who served as the stage crew, completed the shifts rapidly and efficiently. While actors without body microphones were difficult to hear, sound ensured that the actors who were wearing them could be consistently intelligible.
Lady Olivia receives information not by foot messenger, but by text message. Feste plays a ukulele and ends the show not with an elegy, but with “Jai Ho.” As Viola asks, “How will this fadge?” Beautifully, in the case of Marriotts Ridge’s production of

Permalink Reply by Sarah O'Malley on December 6, 2009 at 2:08pm

Combine romance, deception, two twins, three pairs of “pleather” pants, one giant zebra-print couch, a multitude of Ipods, and a handful of cute boys, and what does it equal? No, not an episode of 90210- though that isn’t far off. Marriotts Ridge High School brings to life these elements in their modernized rendition of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, set in present-day Hollywood. The story follows Viola (Hayley Fremuth), separated from her twin brother, Sebastian (Stephen Henderson), at sea. Abandoned in the unfamiliar area of “Illyria, Los Angeles,” she adopts the identity of Sebastian, who she believes is dead. Complications arise when Viola falls in love with her employer, Duke Orsino (Reed Delisle), who sends the young “man” as messenger to Olivia (Caitlin Ratzlaff), a celebrity with whom Orsino has fallen in love with. When Olivia begins to fall for Viola instead (under the guise of a man), Viola struggles with her desires to both make Orsino happy and to have him for herself. When Sebastian turns up alive and comes to town, the whole plan collapses into a hilarious jumble of mistaken identities. When the chaos settles, two very happy couples emerge- each with their own twin.

Occasionally, Shakespearean language can lead to some details of the plot being lost on the audience. The cast of Twelfth Night solved this problem by using their clever modernization to effectively clue the audience in on what was happening. By adding physical cues to their spoken lines, much that may have been confusing was made clear. For example, in a scene where Sir Toby Belch (John Mynaugh) is attempting to flirt with Olivia’s assistant, Maria (Alli Kahan), Mynaugh leaned across tables attempting to touch her as he spoke and ended their exchange with one, large, slap on her rear end. Additionally, modern props were used to further clarify the dialogue, such as the substitution of a wallet for what the script called a “purse.” Props such as Iphones were used to clarify when two characters were planning to meet at a later time and exchanged information. Modernizations of Shakespearean plays can sometimes flop, but this one certainly did not.

Though some of the leading actors struggled with low energy, the comical, colorful, and committed ensemble was the hit of the evening. Brian Gilbert as “The Fool” captured the mischievous playfulness of his character. His comedic timing, larger than life attitude, delightful ukulele playing, and full-body commitment- including several humorous swivels of his rear directed at other characters and an impressive back tumble over Olivia’s couch- were both charming and hilarious. His jests were often directed at another stand out in the show, Drew Belsinger as Malvolio. Playing Olivia’s eccentric assistant, Belsinger consistently used intriguing and hilarious entrances and exits, such as rolling onstage on a scooter in an arabesque pose, or wrapped in a leopard-print “Snuggie.” His over the top silliness carried throughout each of his scenes. Particularly effective was his awkward attempted seduction of Olivia, which became increasingly hilarious as he pressed forward.

The real star of the night, however, was the impressive technical work. The set, designed by Michael Leon, was impeccable. It consisted of five lighted flats dispersed across the stage, which spelled out “90210” on the back sides of each. Each flat was on the stage the entire duration of the show, and was turned around to face the audience when “in use” to suggest whatever location was needed. One flat served as the Vitamin Water bar for Orsino’s “man cave,” while another was part of Olivia’s zebra-print living room. A third formed a doorway to a chapel, and the remaining two were covered in leafy foliage to represent in outdoor scenes. The design was incredibly smart and functional, and reduced long set changes which can so often disrupt the pace of a show.

The impressive set and lively cast together created a thrilling, hilarious, and unforgettable performance. If only the cast had eleven more performances so then audiences could enjoy it for the Twelfth Night.

Permalink Reply by Nediva Sokoll-Ward on December 6, 2009 at 8:33pm

Twelfth Night

Marriotts Ridge transformed Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night into a trendy and clever performance. The actors’ energy and clear dedication to the show made for a terrific night on November nineteenth.
Shipwrecked and separated from her brother, Viola enters Illyria, or in this case, Hollywood, dressed as her brother, Sebastian, in fear of her safety. She takes the name of Cesario and begins her services with the Duke of Illyria, Orsino. Orsino is madly in love with neighboring countess, Olivia, a stunning and highly respected girl. However, in the process of trying to convince Olivia to “unfold the passion of his love” Viola falls in love with Orsino, meanwhile Olivia falls in love with Viola. Malvolio, Olivia’s servant, also displays his affection for Olivia. Can you say, love triangle? However, he is then played a cruel trick upon by Maria, and other servants, receiving a fake love letter from Olivia. Trouble begins when Sebastian is found alive and returns to Illyria, confusing more than just one person.
The actors took over the stage, as they used their entire bodies to help the audience better understand the plot. Every character was constantly doing something, for there was never a dull moment on stage. Feste (Brian Gilbert) was one of the most amusing characters to watch throughout the play. Whether it was dancing to “I’m bringing sexy back” or mocking a character in the background, Feste was an enjoyable character and by the audience’s merriment, he was clearly humorous. Another hilarious individual, Malvolio (Drew Belsinger), best known for his bright yellow stockings, cruised across the stage on his scooter. Olvia (Caitlin Ratzlaff) did a commendable job in the second act, as she finally found her one true love, Sebastian.
Olivia was one of the most animated characters, wearing her personalized, sparkly pink outfit, along with her pink hair streaks. Not to forget Malvolio’s appearance in his leopard print “snuggie,” after being awaken from the fools’ ruckus. The modern setting gave each character the ability to convey their selves in a different way. While Olivia’s girls rocked the latest trend, her uncle, Sir Toby Belch (John Mynaugh) wore a Hawaiian print shirt, showing his carefree attitude. Costume designer and assistant costume designers, Jane Antico, Teresa Billet, Christa Decker, Kathy Fremuth, and Corine Schramke, did a wonderful job creating noticeable, and stylish clothing.
The most memorable feature of the play, was the music played between set changes, which set the tone for the next scene. With the music came lights of different colors, matching the beat of the music which was a nice touch.
The intricate sets helped the audience stay in touch with the plot and the modern time setting. The first act, Orsino’s palace, was chic, colorful, and hip. Vitamin water outlined the walls, which added an obvious modern setting. Set changes were extremely fast paced, smooth and were executed smartly. Actors that were to be on stage for that scene, would move the tables, chairs, and other objects off and on the stage. A clever and convenient method to a more quick set change, were walls, used for a scene on a street, and once turned around, was an addition to a set, such as a desk and shelves. Olivia’s palace was striking, and girly, with its pink couch and zebra print pillows. Each set was obviously well thought out, for the coffee table’s trim matched the zebra print pillows. Set designer, Michael Leon also composed an Earthy set, Olvia’s Garden. This set consisted of a chic flower couch and the brick walls added to the natural feel.
This comical, and dazzling production of Twelfth Night left the audience wanting more after an entertaining dance number performed by the cast. The entire auditorium stood clapping as the characters showed there enjoyment of the show by dancing to the blasting music.

Permalink Reply by Katie Kelly on January 12, 2010 at 5:28pm

Different colors light the stage. Catchy tunes surround the auditorium, while the cast of Marriott’s Ridge High School moves together to produce the waves of a violent storm that starts the brilliantly modernized production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night follows they story of Viola and her twin brother Sebastian as they are separated for the first time in their lives by a terrible storm. They both arrive in Illyria and try to start a life while in search of each other. Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario and is employed by Duke Orsino. While doing deeds for Orsino, Cesario (Viola) finds herself caught up in a complicated drama involving Countess Olivia who Orsino admires.

Marriott’s Ridge High School pulled off this production superbly. While still using the original Shakespearean language, they incorporated popular songs and a flashing modern day setting amazingly. The modernization definitely helped move the play along. Most teenagers today find Shakespearean language difficult to understand, but the costumes, music, and modern actions definitely helped portray the plot and get the message across.

Viola (Hayley Fremuth) is a young girl who has to disguise herself as a boy. Viola works along side Orsino and frequently visits Olivia at his request. Fremuth’s performance of this role was entertaining to watch and really portrayed the difficulties and awkwardness of a girl trying to pull herself off as a boy.

The Fool (Brian Gilbert) is the jester of Countess Olivia. Gilbert played this role excellently. His humorous outbursts and the amazing energy he brought to the stage quickly made the Fool an audience favorite.

The ensemble of the play was truly a great team. Their movements in the beginning as they acted out waves and threw Sebastian up over their heads looked so amazingly real; it drew the audience into the story and made for an exciting beginning. Not only were they a fantastic team acting, they worked together to make speedy set changes without the help of a backstage crew. On stage there were five tall objects with numbers on them (spelling out 90210) that rotated, each revealing a different setting. Everything was extremely well organized and everyone had a certain job. Popular music was played during every set change making it move faster and entertain the audience at the same time.

Marriott’s Ridge High School simply had a great show. Their production of the Twelfth Night was entertaining, funny, exciting, and an overall successful way to bring Shakespeare into the twenty-first century.

Permalink Reply by Sarah Sexton on January 17, 2010 at 9:07pm

90210. “Welcome to the land of fame, excess!” This is Shakespeare’s Hollywood, filled with contemporary music hits, tight leather pants, sparkles, sequins, and…a leopard print Snuggie? Marriotts Ridge High School adapted Shakespeare’s comedy, “Twelfth Night,” and set the hilarious plot of fallacy, disguise, and love to the beats of modern day Hollywood.

The story begins with the separation of Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, because of a shipwreck. When Viola washes ashore in Hollywood, she decides to disguise herself as a man and become a member of the handsome Orsino’s “Man cave.” Viola, in disguise as “Cesario,” soon becomes a favorite with Orsino, who sends her to woo Olivia, the woman of his dreams. Unintentionally Viola wins Olivia’s heart for the wrong “man”…herself! Hilarious confusion ensues as Viola falls for Orsino, while she desperately avoids Olivia’s romantic advances. The chaos climaxes when Sebastian washes ashore and enters into the circus ring of mistaken identities and mismatched lovers.

The cast at Marriotts Ridge High School took on the challenge of a Shakespeare play and presented a performance that had the audience (even the teens) dancing and laughing along with the actors. Despite Shakespeare’s stilted language, the storytelling was clear and engaging because of the cast’s energy and commitment to character. The modern-day Hollywood twist made the performance more like a favorite soap opera that students ache to watch after school than a puzzling play to be read in English class.

Hayley Fremuth portrayed Viola and Cesario with a perfect mix of quick wit and awkward vulnerability. Caitlin Ratzlaff, as the poised and flamboyant Olivia, was able to put on a show as a glitzy diva while remaining appealing because of the disappointment she faces from unreciprocated love. Reed Delisle brought Orsino to life with his swoon-inducing charisma and melodramatic anguish over his unsuccessful pursuit of Olivia.

The main source of comedy within the play was undoubtedly the “Three Merry Men,” Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheck, and Fool. John Mynaugh, Alex Woodhead, and Brian Gilbert portrayed the lively, crowd pleasing trio with side-splitting physical comedy, adept comic timing, and surprising musical talents, which they showcased in renditions of “Dancing Queen,” “Single Ladies,” and serenades accompanied by ukulele. The trio collaborated with the mischievous and conniving Maria (Alli Kahan) to bring down the pompous and arrogant head of Olivia’s household staff, Malvolio (Drew Belsinger). When Maria and the trio of pranksters forge a love note from Olivia to Malvolio, Malvolio follows the “instructions,” right down to wearing yellow, cross-gartered socks, and sets off on a hysterical quest to woo Olivia.

From dazzling, colorful lights, to flashy costumes, to contemporary music, each element of the production came together cohesively to bring Hollywood to life. Tasteful choices in set design and props enhanced the performance, and a full-scale ensemble dance number to “Jai ho” made for a memorable finale.

If only every Shakespeare play read in English class were as entertaining as Marriotts Ridge’s performance of “Twelfth Night,” students everywhere would never groan at the mention of Shakespeare again.

Permalink Reply by Rachel Gertler on January 18, 2010 at 5:09pm

The traditional works of Shakespeare take a sharp right turn into pop culture at Marriotts Ridge’s production of Twelfth Night. And in Tinseltown, anything is possible!



Twelfth Night is noted as one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, and was written around 1601. The play centers around the protagonist Viola, who disguises herself as a man in order to seek employment with Duke Orsino. Orsino uses Viola (now by the name of Cesario) to woo the beautiful countess, Olivia. Olivia, however instead, falls for Viola (thinking she’s actually “Cesario”) and soon, Viola herself starts to fall for Duke! Mistaken identities and absolute commotion start to ensue among all the characters.



The bold and risky twist to this particular production to place the setting in modern day Hollywood was a complete success due to the reoccurring theme of pop culture references such as Vitamin Water stacked in the shelves of Duke’s ‘Man-Cave,’ characters rolling onto stage on razor scooters, and even one wrapped in a leopard-print Snuggie! The cast and crew took the director’s choice with affirmation and exuberance.



Viola, played by Hayley Fremuth, was very believable as she struggled to portray the realistic mannerisms of a boy. Reed Delisle, as the hopeless romantic Orsino, displayed familiar senses of being lost in a trance of love through his heartfelt facial expressions and earnest delivery of lines. Olivia, played by Caitlin Ratzlaff, held a calm composure and sangfroid, which added a nice contrast to the outrageous scenarios and characters around her. Stephen Henderson, as Viola’s twin brother Sebastian, had an endearing stage presence and spoke with witty charisma, and his and Ratzlaff’s onstage chemistry was sweet.



Sir Toby Belch (John Mynaugh), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Alex Woodhead), and The Fool (Brian Gilbert), shared numerous comical exchanges and displayed excellent comedic timing through their scenes of anxious banter. Drew Belsinger amplified the hilarious role of Malvolio. From prancing across the stage in outrageous yellow stockings, to mumbling a small sensual growl, Belsinger had the audience roaring with laughter.



The set consisted of five rotating panels, which were not only used creatively to accent various moods and locations, but also contributed to the facilitation of set changes. Each scene transition was accompanied by nightclub lights and songs, maintaining the audiences’ attention throughout the play.



All in all, the cast and crew of Marriotts Ridge High School proved that, “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Ichniowski on January 18, 2010 at 5:25pm

Is she or isn’t she? Better yet, is he her or is she him? Nobody knows for sure, including their hairdressers, who’s who in Marriotts Ridge High School’s hilarious, gender-bending production of Twelfth Night.

Marriotts Ridge’s version of Twelfth Night is based on the play written in the early 1600’s by William Shakespeare. The story follows Viola, a girl separated in a shipping accident from her twin brother Sebastian, who decides to work for Duke Orsino in a quest for the hand of Olivia. Olivia disguises herself as a man named Cesario and soon falls for the Duke as she courts Olivia for him. Olivia then falls for Cesario, not knowing, of course, that “he” is actually a girl. Meanwhile, the head servant, the stuffy Malvolio, is pining for his employer, Olivia, while Sir Toby Belch (Olivia’s uncle), Maria (another servant), Sir Andrew Aguecheek, (Sir Toby’s friend), and the Fool/Feste, (Olivia’s jester), play an elaborate trick on Malvolio in an attempt to make him appear foolish in front of Olivia. Things become even more interesting, as Sebastian, now thought to have drowned, returns to the confusing array of characters to add to the unfolding drama.

Marriotts Ridge’s production of Twelfth Night is a modern-day adaptation of the Shakespeare classic play, now set in Illyria, Los Angeles (better known to others as zip code 90210). The creative directorial choices in conjunction with excellently casting brought the classical show to modern life. Presenting the setting in modern-day Los Angeles allowed the story to be a bit more understandable even for non-Shakespeare buffs, including the very original idea of updating the traditional characters from their original roles into privileged teenagers and famous Hollywood-type stars. The combination of contemporary life with classical dialogue made the characters very believable and added to the show’s comedic appeal.

Hayley Fremuth, who portrayed Viola/ Cesario, expertly plays a girl pretending to be a boy. Her admitted sense of awkwardness as she tries to maintain the gender charade throughout the show supplies the key element for all other events occurring during the comedy. Fremuth also naturally creates a gradual increase in chemistry between her character and Orsino (played by Reed Delisle). Olivia, portrayed by Caitlin Ratzlaff, displays a conceited and snobby flair at first, but soon shows a softer, more well-grounded attitude as the show progresses. As the audience becomes aware of Olivia falling for Cesario, Ratzlaff’s character displays her softer and flirtatious side, by such techniques as standing closer to ‘him’ and speaking a little more softly than she would around her ‘posse.’ Both Ratzleff and Fremuth work very well together as particularly highlighted in those moments when Cesario tries to convince Olivia to fall for the Duke, while also trying to convince her that he is not romantically interested in her.

Crowd favorites were Malvolio (Drew Belsinger), the Fool/Feste (Brian Gilbert), Sir Toby Belch (John Mynaugh), and Sir Andrew Anguecheek (Alex Woodhead). Belsinger flawlessly portrays Malvolio as an annoying, arrogant young man in love, whether he’s gliding around on his scooter to deliver messages, yelling at others who interrupted his sleep in his sunggie, or flouncing around in an all yellow ensemble. Gilbert, as the Fool/Feste, truly perfects his character’s title, through his body language and excellent timing. Sir Toby Belch (John Mynaugh) plays a lovable drinking prankster. Although during the opening night performance an unplanned awkward pause occurred when Belch picks up a dropped letter, Mynaugh managed to skillfully stay in his crude character by adlibbing a subtle, “Damn letter,” allowing the show to proceed without a hitch thereafter. Alex Woodhead plays Andrew Aguecheek and creates a delightful party-animal persona through the use of excellent hand gestures and facial expressions that exposes his character’s true personality.

Technical aspects of the performance were very creative. The choice of contemporary songs for scene changes was original, as they often foreshadowed what was to occur next. Lighting (designed by Terry Paul, assisted by Elizabeth Stewart) was also synchronized to the beat of the music. The sets (designed by Michael Leon) truly brought the audience the flavor of an L.A. setting through the use of five different large blocks, each representing an individual number of the famous 90210 zip code. Each block pivoted so it could be used to accommodate various scenes, from a small club to a fabulous exterior of a mansion. Costumes (designed by Jane Antico, assisted by Teresa Billet, Christa Decker, and Kathy Fremuth) and makeup (Bonnie Belsinger, Anne Marcellino, consultant Janice Kinigopoulos) helped emphasize the setting, with the fashionable wardrobes emitting the L.A. feel. While there were a couple of scenes where some ensemble members were not miked, the group projected well enough for most of the audience to hear.

Twelfth Night was an absolute treat to all audiences. If this show be the play of love, then play on!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page