News Release
November 2000
(Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania) --The National Shakespeare Company, America’s oldest
professional touring company, will be performing the delightful and
witty comedy, Twelfth Night, at Moravian College’s Foy Hall Concert
Hall on Tuesday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. Foy Hall is located at Church
and Main streets in Historic Bethlehem.
Twelfth Night is packed with all the ingredients of the perfect Shakespearean
situation comedy: a woman disguised as a man, a shipwrecked twin brother,
a melancholy Countess, a love-sick Duke, and a host of bawdy and foppish
characters who manipulate the story to even greater confusion and hilarity.
According to director Angela Flynn, "Twelfth Night" has everything
one expects from Shakespeare’s comedies – mistaken identity,
twins, disguise, love, and a happy ending. Our company of young actors
brings a refreshing perspective to this production, set in the 1920’s
era of vaudeville, and post-war luxury and celebration. It is hard to
resist the joys Twelfth Night has to offer.
After being separated from her twin brother during a
shipwreck at sea, the young and very feminine Viola washes ashore on
the island of Illyria. Aware of the dangers of being a young woman alone,
she disguises herself as a man, assumes the name Cesario, and enters
into the service of Duke Orsino. The Duke is in love with the Countess
Olivia, and uses his newly acquired servant to deliver his persistent
love letters. The fun begins when the Countess falls madly in love with
this attractive young messenger, never suspecting that he is really
a she. Viola, meanwhile, has fallen in love with the Duke, but cannot
reveal her true identity. At the same time, Viola’s lost twin
brother, Sebastian, is very much alive and has miraculously found his
way to Illyria. Looking very much like his disguised sister, he finds
himself alternately wooed, dueled with, yelled at, and ordered about.
The mistaken genders and identities are eventually discovered, and the
very confused couples are finally matched to everybody’s great
relief, amusement and most importantly, genuine happiness.
The National Shakespeare Company was founded in 1963
by actress, Elaine Sulka and producer/director Philip Meister. Their
vision was to create a touring troupe of classically trained actors,
similar to those of the early 19th century. The company’s mission
remains the same today – to make classical theatre and arts education
accessible to all audiences.
Tickets for the National Shakespeare Company’s
performance of Twelfth Night can be purchased at the HUB desk and the
music department. Tickets are free with a Moravian College ID; $10 general
admission; $5 students, children under 12, senior citizens and LVAIC
members.
