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ISSUE FIVE
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From left to right, actress Anna Coon and actors Malcolm Omri and Willie Vetsch prepare to perform Shakespeare’s production Twelfth Night. Shakespeare’s plays hold unique challenges because of the outdated language used but each member of the cast has learned valuable lessons from this production. Twelfth Night will show March 9, 10 and 11 at 7 p.m.
‘TWELFTH NIGHT’ GRACES STAGE
which is funny [but] everything is purposeful in [Shakespeare] “There is an expectation that you learn things quickly and do well and I really enjoy that all of the characters have [background] that but it is definitely really fun and you learn a lot about yourself and you can interpret for yourself and everything is very ambiguous your character. I have a hard time playing a girl pretending to be a rom coast to coast, continent to continent, Shakespeare’s that he writes but there is a purpose for it which I really like boy so it is not just ‘I am a boy’, I am a girl pretending to be a boy. influence can be felt throughout the world. While some high because you can take it one way or another way and I think that It gets confusing on how much you want to act like a guy because school students have limited experience, their interactions really changes how you can act it.” you still want to audience to remember that you are a girl. I think with his work not reaching much past their required reading for Acting can be hard for the most seasoned of pros but having to that is one of the hardest things for my character.” classes, some take part in bringing his words to life on stage. At memorize a language that is so foreign some see it like Greek can Omri, who has taken the role of Antonio, explains Antonio’s PHS, under the direction of PJ Sirl, some 17 students have been challenge actors of all ages. But Elizabethan English is something role as a catalyst for the reunion of two of the main characters as putting together their rendition of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. that many see as beautiful including Coon who, aside from the well as the challenges this character has posed for him as an actor. Junior Malcolm Omri plays Antonio in the PHS theater aesthetic aspect of Shakespeare, appreciates the variety and “[My character] plays a big part in bringing Sebastian and Viola department’s production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Omri, skillset it adds to her acting portfolio. back together because they were separated and in addition to his three productions done with PHS, also shares they are brother and sister. He brought them to “The language is really pretty. It is an his deeper theatrical history. “[The show] has some the town and he saved them. Other than that, interesting skill to have, just to know that you “[I have been involved in theater] for a long time. The first can do Shakespeare. It is fun and different and [Antonio] does not have a really big part,” Omri [show] was around first or second grade. In the beginning, my it is cool to see how humans have not changed really talented people as said. “Yes [Antonio has challenged me as an parents had done it and they said ‘It was fun for us so you should very much. Even though they speak really the lead roles and it looks actor], because there are points where I want to try it.’ So I did and I had a great time. This last play, ‘Our Town,’ was differently their actual human characteristics overplay their emotion but there is other points pretty unique. It was the first time that I emotionally connected are very similar to how we are now,” Coon said. like it is going to be really where I feel he is supposed to be reserved and it to a character and I also did ‘Captains Courageous’ which was my good.” is difficult to find that balance.” With a language barrier making it more first lead role around fifth or sixth grade,” Omri said. Drawing experience from his past, Vetsch difficult to understand what is happening for MALCOLM OMRI Senior Anna Coon stars as the lead role, Viola, who doubles as the audience, Coon shares some of the tactics explains his thought process behind creating JUNIOR Cesario. Coon has been involved with theater for much of her life she uses in her acting to make the show more characters and how they relate to him on a more in addition to her time with PHS’ theater department. personal level. understandable and accessible for everyone. “I have been involved in theater since I “[Duke Orsino] is different. My character, Sam Craig that I “[Shakespeare] is definitely different. I learn was in second grade. [My first show] was a a lot about how to express character through played in ‘Our Town’ was a little more relatable because I moved Thanksgiving show put on by my second grade “The language is really my face and body language because the actual here to the west side of the mountains in seventh grade and I was class. [Theater] has always been a really good new kid. Being an outsider is something I have experienced pretty. It is an interesting spoken word is not as clear to everyone in the outlet for me to express myself [but] I was so the audience. You have to be a little bit more before. It is kind of the same thing with the program, where I young when I started I do not really remember skill to have, just to dramatic with other things and there is a lot walked in here for my very first show and all of these people are not doing theater,” Coon said. more situational plot building. There has very close to each other and I was just the new kid again and so I know that you can do Senior Willie Vetsch stars as one of the been a few times where I have misunderstood felt like Sam really fit me because he was an outsider but I do not leads, Duke Orsino. This is Vetsch’s second Shakespeare.” what the line was saying and then I played it a want to say outsider because that sounds kind of negative. But production done with PHS and his first time certain way and that is not what it meant, so he had the ‘new kid’ vibe even though he left and came back for as a lead. ANNA COON a while,” Vetsch said. “Then this character feels grouchy to me. that makes things weird looking,” Coon said. SENIOR “[I have been involved in theater] for five It cannot be denied that Shakespeare has He is supposed to be like a grouchy old man and he seems a little months. I wanted to try something new and stood the test of time and while some see him upset. He is bummed out because he has been trying to get this fun and I had heard a lot of good things about the drama program as just another English text read in school, others appreciate girl that he has been in love with and she wants nothing to do so I thought I would try it. I have loved my experience so far. The Shakespeare and his work, praising him for his ability to churn with him, so he is a little frustrated. I would like to think I am a people in the class are great and the people in the cast are fantastic out timeless pieces of work. little more positive, it has been a good challenge. and it is just a different kind of family feel,” Vetsch said. I have found myself playing him more positive “The story behind this play itself is that Most know Shakespeare through the long English classes spent [Shakespeare] did it in three days because he was than I feel like I should.” “The story is pretty trying to decipher the language used. Acting it out can pose its living play by play and he needed money to pay For those unaware of the premise of the play, own challenges but for Vetsch, tackling the antiquated words has his rent or whatever and so he whipped this up much a love triangle Vetsch sheds light on the plot and his character’s been a new adventure. role in it all. in three days. It just goes to show how much of a “[Shakespeare] is surprisingly not that different. It is more time genius the man was to write such a good comedy between the three main “The story is pretty much a love triangle consuming, when I first read the script I had absolutely no clue in three days. I think he is really good at playing characters.” between the three main characters. [Duke what was going on but once you figure out what your character is his audience or the certain time era. Clearly, Orsino] is in love with the main woman [Olivia] trying to say and how your character is feeling it is pretty easy it he has done something right if [hundreds] of and he is also in love with the servant [Cesario/ WILLIE VETSCH just takes a few extra days and a little more research to figure out years later we are still putting on productions SENIOR Viola]. It is just a big love triangle and I do not what is going on,” Vetsch said. want to give away anything but it is Shakespeare of Shakespeare. And if you plan on pursuing With tools like No Fear Shakespeare, reading Shakespeare [theater] to the next level it is good thing to have on your resume so I am assuming everybody has at least read this,” Vetsch said. is more accessible for the masses but it can still create barriers and it is just fun,” Vetsch said. Omri urges people to come see Twelfth Night and enjoy one with its archaic meanings. For Omri, as an actor, this can cause While some actors suffer from stage fright, others find of Shakespeare’s most famous works. difficulties in the memorization of his lines and his interpretations themselves drawn to the stage. But, as Coon explains, there are “So far [the show] is pretty funny and it is going very well with of the text. drawbacks to your time in the lime-light such as more pressure how much we have been getting done so it looks more prepared “Shakespeare is so much more difficult just because it is so from the people around you. than most of the Shakespeare shows I have seen them do. It is just much harder to connect the emotions to the words because it is “Viola is the central character, she is there to carry the plot. She the cast, it has some really talented people as the lead roles and it not something you would ever say and it is difficult to say what does not have the most lines but the story is about her. There is a looks like it is going to be really good,” Omri said. you should do. [The script] is not very conversational. It takes bit more pressure [being the lead] because there are other people The PHS theater department’s production of Twelfth Night will longer to figure out, ‘alright this is what I think this character is who are super qualified to do that part and could have done it have performances on March 9, 10 and 11, all starting at 7 p.m. meaning by this,’” Omri said. “There are a lot of great qualities better so you never want to let other people down,” Coon said. in the auditorium. about Shakespeare. Of course there is a lot of dirty language B Y S H A Y L A J O N E S A N D J E N S E T H E C O V E R A G E A N D P R I N T E D I T O R S
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