Audience Comments on Flatwater Shakespeare's *Twelfth Night*

"Thank you to the cast and crew of Twelfth Night! The open-air setting, handsome costuming, masterful direction, and first-rate performances made for a truly delightful and memorable evening! Don't miss it!"

"I just returned from seeing Twelfth Night. A big thanks to the cast for a splendid evening . . . Thank you for lifting my spirits; I hope to see you again! God bless!"

"A fun show in a lovely setting. Thanks for a wonderful evening!"

"I had a great time at the show on Friday night - many thanks to the talented cast and crew for a throughly enjoyable show!!"

"Flatwater Shakespeare’s production of Twelfth Night, currently playing one more week at the Foundation Garden and then touring Lincoln city parks for two weeks, is hands down the best Twelfth Night I have ever seen . . . It is Shakespeare mixed with Preston Sturges, Noel Coward, and the Marx Brothers. It is bright, clear, sparkling, and absurdly funny. I watched as if seeing and hearing it for the first time: it honestly seemed brand new. Go now so you can make your plans to see it again and again. Hell, you’ll want to see it one time just to ogle the gorgeous clothes again!"

"Thank you all for a wonderful show!"

"Well done cast! My family and I enjoyed the show! Saw the show tonight. There really are no words to describe how hysterically funny it is. The whole cast was incredible . . ."

"Saw the show Friday night. It was amazing. Everyone in Lincoln should see this!"

The Flatwater Shakespeare Company production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will, directed by Bob Hall, continues this Friday, June 22, at the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden in downtown Lincoln ("N" Street near Centennial Mall). Show times 7 p.m.

Admission Free ($10 donation suggested)!

The production will run through Sunday, June 24, before embarking on a two-week tour of Lincoln parks and other outdoor venues.

Photo: Cory Misek as Sebastian, Maggie Austin as Viola/Cesario, Andy Dillehay as Feste, and Summer Widhalm as Olivia in Flatwater Shakespeare's production of Twelfth Night.  Photo Credit: John Nollendorfs.

 

A Jovial Escapade!

From the Lincoln Journal Star, June 16, 2012 –

“Flatwater Shakespeare Company’s production of Shakespeare's comedy is simply a jovial escapade of capering fun . . .

Currently performed in the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden, director Bob Hall has moved the 16th century piece into the early 20th century via 1920s Parisian jazz, entr’acte music and period costumes . . .

Richard Nielsen’s didactic Malvolio is an oily egotistical jewel, with Tom Crew’s inebriated Sir Toby a cavorting marvel. Add in a wonderfully audacious and swaggering performance from Andy Dillehay as Feste the Clown to complete the circle.

Maggie Austin executes a nicely balanced performance as Cesario/Viola, very capably delivering an understated display of her character’s emotional vacillation between male and female reactions to the situations in which she finds herself.

Look to Clay Stevens (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Cory Misek (Sebastian) and Mike Lee (Fabian) for other satisfying portrayals.

. . . The Flatwater production of Twelfth Night — subtitled What You Will — is a lighthearted jaunt that easily enfolds those watching it into its merry festival spirit.”

For the full review: http://journalstar.com/entertainment/arts-and-culture/theatre/review-twelfth-night-flashes-festival-spirit/article_00ac5e2e-0513-5f36-8319-a2c8c07c52c0.html#ixzz1xyo1hLXx

Flatwater Shakespeare's production of

William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, directed by Bob Hall,

continues tonight and Sunday, June 16-17,

and next Wednesday through Sunday, June 20-24.

Performances at the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden

in downtown Lincoln ("N" Street near Centennial Mall).

Show times 7 p.m.

Admission Free ($10 donation suggested).

A two-week tour of Lincoln parks and other outdoor venues.

 starts on Thursday, June 28. (Stay tuned!)

For additional information, call 402-473-2897.

Photo: Maggie Austin as Viola / Cesario and Summer Widhalm as Olivia in the Flatwater Shakespeare Company production of Twelfth Night.  Photo Credit: John Nollendorfs.

 

Schedule Change for *Twelfth Night*

Flatwater Shakespeare Company's production of

William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will,

directed by Bob Hall,

will have an Open Rehearsal, tomorrow, Wednesday June 13.

Audiences are welcome to attend!

The Official Opening will be Thursday June 14.

Performances at the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden

in downtown Lincoln ("N" Street near Centennial Mall).

Show times 7 p.m.

Admission Free ($10 donation suggested).

The production will continue June 15-17 and 20-24

before embarking on a two-week tour of Lincoln parks

and other outdoor venues.

For additional information, call 402-473-2897.

Are All the People Mad? -- Sebastian

Songs! Clowns! Pirates (well, one – alleged)!

Lovers! Fools! Madmen (well, one – alleged)!

and Poetry!

The Flatwater Shakespeare Company's production of

William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will,

directed by Bob Hall,

opens this Wednesday, June 13,

at the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden in downtown Lincoln

("N" Street near Centennial Mall)!

Show times 7 p.m.

Admission Free ($10 donation suggested)!

The production will run June 13-17 and 20-24

before embarking on a two-week tour of Lincoln parks

and other outdoor venues.

Featuring Maggie Austin as Viola (who pretends to be Cesario);

Cory Misek as Sebastian (her twin brother);

Nathan Weiss as Duke Orsino (whom Cesario serves);

Summer Widhalm as the Lady Olivia (whom Orsino adores);

Richard Nielsen as Malvolio (who also adores Olivia);

Andy Dillehay as Feste the Jester;

Tom Crew as Sir Toby (Olivia's uncle);

Clay Stevens as Sir Andrew (who also adores Olivia);

Becky Key Boesen as Maria (Olivia's lady-in-waiting);

John Marinovich as Antonio (the alleged pirate, who adores Sebastian);

Mike Lee as Fabian (in Olivia's service);

Shade Ingraham as Valentine (in Orsino's service);

Michael de la Rosa as Curio (also in Orsino's service);

and Richard Imig as the Captain.

For more information, visit flatwatershakespeare.org 

or call 402-473-2897.

What Kind of Fool Am I? (Parte the Seconde)

Fool for a Day or Night, especially Twelfth Night?

From Declan Donnellan, Artistic Director of Cheek by Jowl: “Twelfth Night, or 6 January, is the occasion for the Feast of Fools when masters and servant reversed status and played each other. But more importantly Twelfth Night is also the Feast of the Epiphany. A solemn feast of the Catholic Church, it is the night of the Magi's visit to the Christ child . . . the first moment when people in our world realized who Jesus actually was . . . It is the moment when the immanent is made manifest, the moment of human perception of the divine. Many writers, like James Joyce, were deeply concerned with this moment, and Shakespeare's plays are full of epiphanic revelations.”

Consider all the revelations in the last scene: Viola and Sebastian realize their greatest hope has come true – they are both alive; Orsino discovers whom he has grown to love and who has loved him; Olivia discovers whom she has married; Malvolio discovers that Olivia does not love him; Antonio discovers that Sebastian has not betrayed (and denied) him; Sir Andrew discovers that Sir Toby is no real friend. Some of these are miraculous, others are shattering, a few are likely both.

Fool for Love or Self-Love?

Plenty of characters act foolishly because of their infatuation with – and desire for – someone: Orsino over Olivia, Olivia over Viola over Cesario, Sir Andrew over Olivia (although he may be foolish no matter what), and certainly Malvolio over Olivia. While Malvolio's foolishness is most clearly based on an inflated sense of his personal qualities, that kind of folly is shared not only by Sir Andrew but also Orsino. In contrast, there's a noble folly shown by Viola in carrying out Orsino's wishes even though they would destroy her own – and by Antonio in risking everything for the sake of Sebastian. And perhaps Maria is a Fool for Love as well: her jest at Malvolio's expense certainly impresses Sir Toby; and the question remains whether Sir Toby is that great a catch for anyone.

Flatwater Shakespeare's Twelfth Night 
arrives soon!  All show times are at 7 p.m.

June 13-17 and 20-24 – Lincoln Community Foundation Garden (near 14th and N)

June 28 – Antelope Park (27th and A)

June 29 – Trago Park (22nd and T)

June 30 – Henry Park (44th and Prescott)

July 1 – Wyuka Cemetery (35th and O)

July 5 – First Plymouth Church (20th and D)

July 6 – Havelock Park (62nd and Havelock)

July 7 – Irvingdale Park (19th and Van Dorn)

July 8 – Bethany Park (66th and Vine)