Connecting teen audiences to the classics can be tricky, but the Laurel Mill Playhouse Shakespeare Teen Theater's summer production of "Twelfth Night" successfully sticks to the basics and offers pure Elizabethan fun.
Director Michael Hartsfield, of Laurel, wisely sets the show as written — in ancient Illyria on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, a decision as necessary to creating an authentic atmosphere as James Raymond's artfully designed set and Kim Delk's striking period costumes.
Considered one of Shakespeare's "transvestite" comedies, the plot of "Twelfth Night" travels a 16th-century love triangle. Helen Gorman plays Viola, a shipwrecked young woman who believes that her identical twin brother has been killed and who masquerades as a male page in order to enter the service of Orsino, the love-struck duke of Illyria, played by Gary Muggleton Small.
Her duties as Cesario send Viola as an intermediary to further Orsino's suit to the Countess Olivia, played by Mariah Kuhn. But the disguised Viola falls for the duke. And Olivia not only believes Viola's masquerade, she is seized by uncontrollable passion for the illusive Cesario.
Meanwhile, Sir Toby Belch, played by Chaz Atkinson; Sir Andrew Aguecheek, played by Jakson Sanchez; servants Maria and Fabin, played by Rebecca Jonas and Christina O'Brien; and the fool Feste, played by Sofia Cabrales; riotously scheme to trick Olivia's conceited steward Malvolio, played by Andrew Rayo.
Typical Shakespearean themes — gender confusion, cross-dressing, same-sex attraction, mistaken identity, uncontrollable love, revenge and a bit of madness and melancholy — inevitably emerge. The amorous confusion all shakes out when Sebastian, Viola's twin played by Jacob Rocco, appears near the end.
The romantic comedy has proven easily accessible to modern interpretation, but other than casting actresses to play male roles when Shakespeare did the opposite, Hartsfield takes only one noticeable liberty: He adds a cast member.
Jeannette Brown joins the cast as the Duke's Interpreter. As Orsino, Small — who neither hears nor speaks — renders a charming performance signing his role, while Brown delivers all of his speeches almost flawlessly.
The iambic pentameter of the poetry seldom inhibits the cast of more than 20 high school students; they do an admirable job of handling the difficult language. These very young actors "get" what they're doing, which is reason enough to mount a summer teen Shakespeare production.
And they all look great.
As Sir Toby, Atkinson obviously loves strutting his character's bawdiness, shaking his fake big belly to the delight of audience peers. Jonas delivers a solid performance as Maria, Toby's love interest and fellow conspirator; while Sanchez, as Sir Toby's sidekick Augecheek, is convincingly vain and foppish.
Cabrales' a cappella singing as Feste creates many of the show's best moments; she captivates the audience with every song. Dressed in a colorful jester's costume, the energy and enthusiasm Cabrales brings to her role sparkle as brightly as Hartsfield's starry lighting design.
While Kuhn is lithe, lovely and believable as the Countess Olivia, Rayo is so entertainingly obnoxious as the ambitious Malvolio that the audience cheers his demise.
Gorman is consistently fresh and winning as Viola, aka Cesario; and Rocco steps into his role as Sebastian with aplomb.
One obstacle the audience must overcome is the fact that Viola and Sebastian look nothing alike. The two actors are dressed in duplicate costumes to establish that their characters are identical twins, and there is only a brief moment of confusion, as viewers reach to suspend their disbelief and accept that Olivia believes Sebastian is Cesario.
It works largely due to Kuhn's confident stage presence.
Other supporting roles and the ensemble are all well played. The Laurel Mill Playhouse has much to be proud of in this production. "Twelfth Night" may presume that we have no control over who or how we love, but this community theater knows what it's about.
"Twelfth Night" continues through July 17, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees on July 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. General admission is $13. Students, 18 and under; and seniors, 65 and over, pay $10. For reservations, call 301-617-9906 and press 2.