Shakespeare Stage Spectacular: What You Will
Time flies when there’s a play to rehearse and an audience to entertain. It was back at the beginning of November when Mr Bibby announced this year’s Prep School production: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare – or as Shakespeare called it and as the children now know it, What You Will.
Indeed, that time has flown and it has been a pleasure for everyone involved – from Mr Bibby directing to the student crew supporting– to perfect the performance and enjoy a culminating three nights of stage brilliance.
Shakespeare’s comedy unfolds around a group of individuals shipwrecked on an island, trying to solve a problem of mistaken identity, and endeavouring to find true love. The complexity of the play – as with Shakespeare’s scripts in general – can be difficult for even adults to understand. However, our Year 6-8 actors did the famous playwright great justice, making the play intelligible as well as enormous fun. The fight scenes were masterpieces of hilarity. The trickery used by some of the characters, likewise.
There were separate casts spread over the three nights and each impressed their audience as much as the last. A special thank you must go to parents for all your support, both at home as well as during the show, and to our very own Adam Geller, who wrote and performed his own music beautifully.
Cast and Crew
All members of the large cast and crew worked tirelessly throughout the rehearsals and production.
Synopsis
Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian are shipwrecked in a violent storm off the coast of Illyria; in the process Sebastian is lost, assumed drowned. Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes by the name of Cesario for protection. Thus disguised, Viola becomes a page in the service of Orsino, the Duke. It seems that Orsino is having little luck courting Olivia, who is in mourning for the deaths of her father and brother. As Orsino’s proxy, Viola is sent to Olivia with love letters. Viola refuses to budge until she is let in to see Olivia; Olivia, intrigued by the impudent young “boy,” contrives to get “Cesario” to return by sending her steward, Malvolio, after her with one of Olivia’s rings. Viola realises to her dismay that Olivia has fallen for her Cesario rather than Duke Orsino—further complicated by the fact that Viola has had stirrings herself for Orsino.
Who will marry who? Will Malvolio surprise us all? Will poor Andrew find anyone?
Published on: 30th March 2017
