This week, Actors Alive will present Twelfth Night, its second Shakespeare production at the Centralia Cultural Society. Actors Alive is an adult theatre training program made up of local actors who meet regularly to study their craft. The group is directed by Viki Oliver Loomis, a longtime student of Shakespeare’s work.
Twelfth Night tells the story of a twin brother and sister who are separated in a shipwreck and end up in the foreign land of Illyria. The sister, Viola, disguises herself as a man and begins working as a page for Count Orisino, who she secretly falls in love with. Orsino, meanwhile, is in love with his neighbor, Lady Olivia, who unwittingly falls for the disguised Viola, creating a love triangle.
Rather than being solely performed on the stage, Twelfth Night will be performed on the theater floor with limited seating surrounding the performing area. Loomis says audiences who haven’t seen one of Shakespeare’s comedies will be surprised by how approachable this show is.
“They get here and go, ‘I didn’t know Shakespeare was funny. I even understood all of that.’ I think it’s important that people know that this isn’t stuffy. This isn’t the Shakespeare that people read in high school,” Loomis said.
Kara Bahr, who plays Olivia, has years of past experience in theatre and Shakespeare. She says this play is likely to draw plenty of laughter, and the cast for this show has developed strong chemistry.
“The group itself (stands out),” Bahr said. “I feel like our cast has a tight-knit feel to it and we’re very supportive of each other. That’s really important.”
Levi Malan plays Toby Belch, Olivia’s disorderly uncle. He also contributed sound design for the storm sequence that takes place in the first act. Malan says audience members can look forward to a surprising and interactive experience.
“I really want people to be ready for everything,” Malan said. “I hope that we get a lot of interaction with the audience going. That’s definitely going to be fun for everyone, because not only are they watching a play, they’re also in a way getting to be a part of it.”
The performances will take place at the Centralia Cultural Society on November 8 at 2:00 p.m. and November 8, 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. Additional information and advance tickets for Twelfth Night are available on the Cultural Society website at www.centraliaculturalsociety.org or by calling (618) 532-2951. Tickets, if available, may also be purchased at the door prior to the performances.
Levi Malan as Toby Belch (left) and John Bochantin as Sir Andrew (right) perform in a scene together. Photo by Austin Williams.
Kara Bahr as Olivia (left) and Michelle Moreno as Viola (right). Photo by Austin Williams.
John Bochantin as Andrew and Kelly Reed as Antonio face each other with swords in Twelfth Night. Photo by Austin Williams.
