Sirs Andrew Aguecheek, Toby Belch (left) and Phoebe (right) mock the subject of their prank, the dandy servant Malvolio in the MVHS Drama Dept. production of Twelfth Night last week. Pictured l to r: Sterling Waite, Kameron Moore, Cody Adams and Jordan Hardy.

By Jessica Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Drama Department performed William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” last week. Although there were some slight modern variations to the production, it did not depart from the traditional language, the humor and the lively spirit of this Shakespeare favorite.

“[The Twelfth Night] is more difficult than other plays we’ve performed in the past,” said MVHS Drama Teacher and Director, Kenna Dalley. “Some kids really had to work hard to learn their lines because, with Shakespeare, it has to be word perfect.”

In order to put on this production, the Dalley had to be innovative in casting in order to make due with what she had. One of the major changes caused a complete alteration of a character. Because of a shortage of male actors, the role of the lighthearted Fabian was changed to the milkmaid Phoebe played by Jordan Hardy. Though Hardy delivered ably delivered her lines as Shakespeare wrote them, she elected to add a modern teen-aged inflection to the delivery. This practice stood out in contrast to the more traditional delivery of her peers but it also added spice and a modern humor to the role.

Megan Potter (as Feste) and Amanda Jacobsmeyer (as a Musician) also mixed a measure of modern flavor with the traditional. This pair worked together to compose a modern pop-influenced tune to be sung to lyrics that Shakespeare provided. The music was performed in full in the play. Segments of it were used to fill space during set changes. Potter, who won the Best Actress award for her performance, sang the tune while the inattentive mute played by Jacobsmeyer accompanied on the guitar.

Cody Adams, who won the Best Actor award for his performance, acted as Malvolio, the efficient, self-righteous servant. He performed his role hilariously, showing his skills in both acting like a stuck-up gentleman and a mad man.

Danielle Pray in the gender-bending role of Viola, played a woman pretending to be her twin brother. She was involved in a sword fight as well as a shipwreck and, finally, a very unusual love triangle.

Stephanie Lyon, who won the Director’s Choice award, acted as Maria, a mischievous maiden. She, in league with Kameron Moore, playing as the drunken Sir Toby Belch, and Sterling Waite, playing as the clueless, egotistical Sir Andrew Aguecheek, worked together in an amusing scheme to make a complete fool out of Malvolio.

“[The actors] were a little skeptical, going from our last play ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ to Shakespeare,” Dalley said. “They were tentative through the dress rehearsals and weren’t truly excited about it until they saw the audience’s reaction.”

“These students worked hard to understand Shakespeare and I’m pleased with the outcome,” Dalley said.

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