Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
at Herndon High School

Reviewed on November 11, 2017

Karen Zipor
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

"If music be the food of love, play on," is undoubtedly the most famous line from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. But before Duke Orsino gets a chance to express his lovesickness, the audience was immediately introduced to the 1920's era of the show. The Duke's speakeasy consisted of a brightly lit bar, an ensemble of dancing flapper girls, and upbeat jazz music. A tight-knit cast of hilarious actors filled the stage of Herndon High School's production of Twelfth Night.

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (also known as What You Will) is a comedy written around 1601-1602. It was originally performed as entertainment to celebrate closing off the Christmas season on the Twelfth Night (hence the title of the show). Although the play was written over 400 years ago, the comedy still holds true, and it is a wildly popular play among high schools and Shakespearean troupes all over the world.

The main plot follows the shipwrecked Viola (Erin Maxwell) who lands on the island of Illyria and believes that her twin brother, Sebastian (Henry Metcalf), drowned at sea. Viola decides to disguise herself as a boy so she can work for Duke Orsino (Sean Sullivan). Maxwell surpassed the challenges of her role, as she fluctuated between the feminine Viola and her masculine identity of "Cesario" effortlessly. She was constantly enamored by Orsino, and her reunion with her lost brother at the end was the most poignant moment of the play.

The ensemble of comedic characters shined in this show and commanded the audience's attention. The Fool, also known as Feste the Jester (Rose Bailey), was a crowd favorite. She had many songs throughout the show: belting out Shakespearean rhymes with her trusty kazoo. In addition, the drunken duo of Sir Toby Belch (Cristian Bonilla Lainez) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Trace Hollenbeck) played off each other like a tuned clock. They both would party the night away, play pranks, and duel Viola with extravagant intoxicated enthusiasm.

The most surprisingly endearing character was Malvolio (Shivam Shrivastava). He began the show as the snarky and composed servant to Olivia (Elise Fleming). However, Malvolio gets pranked on and led to believe that Olivia is secretly in love with him. Shrivastava was entirely committed to his role as the love-struck Malvolio. Willing to do anything to please Olivia, Shrivastava's character completely changed: spectacularly sporting yellow stockings and flirtatious smiles.

All of the makeup, costumes, and props were colorful and consistent with the period of America during the 1920's. The set consisted of painted periactoids and a rotating platform that could be Orsino's speakeasy or Olivia's shrine to her deceased brother. Concerning tech backstage, the running crew didn't seem to have a sense of urgency during scene changes, but the mics were flawless throughout the show.

Overall, Herndon High School put together a performance that was utterly delightful to watch. The close bond among the cast members translated onstage with their impeccable comedic timing and genuine connections. With their in-depth understanding of Shakespeare, Herndon High School certainly knows that it's better to be a witty fool than a foolish wit.

Joan Flaherty
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Sit back, relax, and prepare to giggle at the original rom-com, filled with all your favorite cliches-- love triangles, pranks, cross dressing, alcoholic family members, and cross gartered yellow stockings. Okay, so maybe Herndon High School's Twelfth Night isn't your typical "girl gets a makeover for a guy" type show (unless you count a ship wrecked Viola dressing as a man to serve Duke Orsino.)

Shakespeare did, in fact, write more than just the story about two star-crossed lovers that you were forced to read in ninth grade English. With the bard's debut of Twelfth Night, he ushered a fresh sub-genre of shows that incorporate aspect of both comedy and romance. Since it's 1601 release, the play (alternatively titled What You Will) has been an international hit. In addition, the plot has inspired a myriad of pop culture sensations including She's the Man and Just One of the Guys.

For every love story an "it" guy is needed-- in this case Orsino. Played by Sean Sullivan, his melancholy and wealth were not enough to win the heart of Countess Olivia (Elise Fleming,) but did attract a young lady in an unfortunate situation, Viola (Erin Maxwell.) From the moment the protagonist was rescued from the sea, Maxwell showed proper urgency and understanding of her character. When Viola turned Cesario, the audience laughed at the actress's man-spreading and emphasis of her masculine irony.

Viola and Duke Orsino are not the only noteable couple on the Herndon stage; a bromance between Sir Toby (Cristian Bonilla Lainez) and Sir Andrew (Trace Hollenback) captured the heart and busted the gut of the audience. The duo's chemistry equated to perfect comedic timing and the creation of many memorable scenes. Joining them, Feste (Rose Bailey) and Malvolio (Shivam Shirvastava) both brought clear line delivery and a unique, humorous aura to the theater.

While overlooked characters in the text, the minor roles stood out. From the sailors who rescue Viola and peek behind her sheet while she changes to the Priest (Shannon Fowler) who with bald cap and jolly grin marries the couples, there were no small parts. Despite brilliant performances from the cast, they did struggle with delivery of the Shakespearean lines, falling into rhythmic speaking and speeding through them.

The tech utilized was just as clever as the actors it highlighted. Periaktoi, triangular prisms on wheels, comprised the set-- acting as puzzle pieces to construct the setting. With such an intricately designed set, transitions were lengthy, but it was still fascinating, nonetheless, to watch the running crew compose the next scene. Music played in between scenic switches as well, one of the elements-- along with aerial mics-- that the sound crew flawlessly executed.

So, why sit on your couch and watch 10 Things I Hate About You for the a thousandth time? Cross garter your favorite pair of yellow stockings and head towards Herndon High School where you can see what's all the hype with this Shakespeare guy.

Elizabeth DeProspo
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

"If music be the food of love, play on," is undoubtedly the most famous line from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. But before Duke Orsino gets a chance to express his love-sickness, the audience was immediately introduced to the 1920's era of the show. The Duke's speakeasy consisted of a brightly lit bar, an ensemble of dancing flapper girls, and upbeat jazz music. A tight-knit cast of hilarious actors filled the stage of Herndon High School's production of Twelfth Night.

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (also known as What You Will) is a comedy written around 1601-1602. It was originally performed as entertainment to celebrate closing off the Christmas season on the Twelfth Night (hence the title of the show). Although the play was written over 400 years ago, the comedy still holds true, and it is a wildly popular play among high schools and Shakespearean troupes all over the world.

The main plot follows the shipwrecked Viola (Erin Maxwell) who lands on the island of Illyria and believes that her twin brother, Sebastian (Henry Metcalf), drowned at sea. Viola decides to disguise herself as a boy so she can work for Duke Orsino (Sean Sullivan). Maxwell surpassed the challenges of her role, as she fluctuated between the feminine Viola and her masculine identity of "Cesario" effortlessly. She was constantly enamored by Orsino, and her reunion with her lost brother at the end was the most poignant moment of the play.

The ensemble of comedic characters shined in this show and commanded the audience's attention. The Fool, also known as Feste the Jester (Rose Bailey), was a crowd favorite. She had many songs throughout the show: belting out Shakespearean rhymes with her trusty kazoo. In addition, the drunken duo of Sir Toby Belch (Cristian Bonilla Lainez) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Trace Hollenbeck) played off each other like a tuned clock. They both would party the night away, play pranks, and duel Viola with extravagant intoxicated enthusiasm.

The most surprisingly endearing character was Malvolio (Shivam Shrivastava). He began the show as the snarky and composed servant to Olivia (Elise Fleming). However, Malvolio gets pranked on and led to believe that Olivia is secretly in love with him. Shrivastava was entirely committed to his role as the love-struck Malvolio. Willing to do anything to please Olivia, Shrivastava's character completely changed: spectacularly sporting yellow stockings and flirtatious smiles.

All of the makeup, costumes, and props were colorful and consistent with the period of America during the 1920's. The set consisted of painted periactoids and a rotating platform that could be Orsino's speakeasy or Olivia's shrine to her deceased brother. Concerning tech backstage, the running crew didn't seem to have a sense of urgency during scene changes, but the mics were flawless throughout the show.

Overall, Herndon High School put together a performance that was utterly delightful to watch. The close bond among the cast members translated onstage with their impeccable comedic timing and genuine connections. With their in-depth understanding of Shakespeare, Herndon High School certainly knows that it's better to be a witty fool than a foolish wit.

Katie Bushman
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

As the famous quote goes, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Herndon High school certainly achieved greatness with their invigorating performance of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Twelfth Night, regarded as one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies, revolves around Viola, a girl who has lost her twin brother in a shipwreck. Finding herself on the shores of a foreign land, she disguises herself as a boy in order to serve the Count Orsino, who sends her as a messenger to woo the proud Olivia. But when Viola finds herself falling for Orsino and Olivia falls in love with Viola thinking she's a man, hi-jinks ensue.

Erin Maxwell was a magnetic presence onstage as she portrayed Viola with equal parts humor and heart. From her obvious pining for Orsino to her confusion over Olivia to her ability to balance the masculinity and femininity of her character, she captured the audience's attention every moment she was onstage and grounded the whole show with her clear understanding of the text and character. Another standout performance was Trace Hollenbeck as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who committed himself entirely to the ridiculousness of his character and was always sure to make the audience laugh. As the clever fool Feste, Rose Bailey stood out with consistent energy and effortless comedic timing. Shivam Shrivastava deftly executed both Malvolio's snobbery and madness, while Henry Metcalf (Sebastian) and Sean Sullivan (Orsino) both provided steady presences onstage and had excellent chemistry with Maxwell. Though issues with diction caused some verbal humor to be lost, the physical humor and energy of the cast made up for it.

The set, designed by Tina Thayer, adequately represented an impressive number of settings, including a speakeasy, a prison, and a garden. Sound effects, executed by Bridget Neely, were always perfectly timed, and jazz music added to the 1920's setting, as did hair and make-up by Celeste Gardy. Lighting effects by Michael Sasseen, including flashes of lightning, the wandering beam of a lighthouse, and use of spotlight, aided actors during their extensive use of the auditorium aisles.

The cast and crew of Twelfth Night at Herndon High School brought this 400-year-old play to roaring life with strong commitment and high energy, resulting in a production that was a delight to watch.

Bethanya Yared
Saint John Paul The Great Catholic HS
Submitted for publication to FCPS Student Voice

Cross-gartered yellow stockings, flappers, and kazoos are only a few words to describe Herndon High School's idiosyncratic production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. A new approach to the modern tale was taken with a 1920s twist. This show will leave you with ineffable feelings of joy and surprise.

Twelfth Night, also known as What You Will, was written by William Shakespeare around 1601-1602. The classic play has had numerous productions dating from 1931 to 2017. There have also been many stage, film, television, radio, and music adaptations of the play for over centuries.

The show starts off with a dance number featuring flappers from the ensemble. This thoroughly presented the 1920's theme to the audience. The play follows a tangled love triangle between three of the main characters: Viola, Orsino, and Olivia. Two twins, Viola and Sebastian, are separated in a shipwreck. Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario, and becomes infatuated with Orsino, the Duke of Illyria. However, Orsino is in love with Countess Olivia. Later, Countess Olivia meets Viola and becomes fond of her, not realizing her true identity of a woman. There was copious attention to detail shown throughout the show. This involved little things like having Viola's hair wet after the shipwreck and fake blood on characters after they were hit or stabbed.

Throughout the play, many of the actors performed outstandingly with perfect comedic timing and physical humor. Trace Hollenbeck (Sir Andrew) left the crowd in hysterics with his bouncy drunken movements and jokes. He managed to play off other characters with ease, and take on unique characters choices. Shivam Shrivastava (Malvolio) provided precise diction and physical comedy to otherwise esoteric lines and scenes. From funny body language directed at Olivia to dramatically laying on a bench, Shrivastava imparted the crowd with an overwhelming feeling of awe. Erin Maxwell gave a lighthearted emotion-filled performance as Viola, with many different mannerisms that reminded the audience that her character was a female masquerading as a male. Rose Bailey (Feste) brought comedy relief to the show every time she brought out her kazoo. Even characters with smaller roles like the priest, first officer, and sailors managed to give impressive, amusing performances with only a few minutes of stage time.

Each of the technical elements allowed the show to have its own distinctive style. The hair and makeup of each character effectively reflected the 1920's theme of the show. Props like the bottles of alcohol that Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Sir Toby Belch carried looked very realistic. There were multiple confusing light cues during the production, but the actors still managed to keep the audience enthralled. For the set, the crew utilized moving set pieces to allow for trouble-free and swift scene changes.

Herndon High School's production of Twelfth Night was filled with laughs and gasps, lovers and liars, and fools with kazoos. This show sought to give the crowd a humorous night to remember, and that it did. While Twelfth Night is a difficult show to perform, the students of Herndon High School made it a success.

Marieska Luzada
Dominion High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Men and women gather around two flapper girls dancing to Charleston-like music in a local speakeasy while the Duke of Illyria looks on, marking the beginning of the latest production of Twelfth Night at Herndon High School, set in the Roarin' 20's.

Written by William Shakespeare around the early 1600's, Twelfth Night follows Viola, who poses as a man named Cesario after separated from her brother, Sebastian, during a shipwreck. Tension ensues in this popular comedy when the female protagonist encounters a love triangle between Orsino and Olivia. The play also includes a comic subplot, with two drunkards, a steward, and a gentlewoman, further creating a suspenseful spectacle of humor combined with drama.

Herndon High School put on an unforgettable production of a Shakespeare comedy with the cast's limitless abilities to perform as 17th-century characters in the 1920's. Amazing chemistry was seen throughout the show among the characters to convey an accurate and smooth flow of the comedic plot. All of the characters had perfect comedic timing, even during the most serious moments of the show, keeping the audience chuckling whilst on the edge of their seats. A sprinkle of drama, a pinch of comedy, and a lot of character chemistry makes this production of "Twelfth Night" a memorable one.

Erin Maxwell, who played the female protagonist, Viola, brought life to the character in more ways than one. While playing the role of Cesario, she portrayed the physicality of a male while maintaining a feminine identity. Although she kept the audience laughing with her brilliant comedic timing as Cesario, she stayed strong throughout the show while captivating the essence of sorrow and melancholy as Viola, especially when she mourns her brother's loss and her conflict with the Viola-Orsino-Olivia love triangle. Maxwell's male counterpart, Sean Sullivan (Orsino) maintained an enticing yet likable persona when interacting with other characters. Sullivan's role of Orsino became a more dynamic and sincere character over the course of the show, further demonstrating a charming and heartwarming character towards all.

Although both Maxwell and Sullivan captured the hearts of many during the performance, the supporting characters of the production also provided wit to the comedic plot. Kate Grover, Cristian Bonilla Lainez, Shivam Shrivastava, and Trace Hollenbeck (who played Maria, Sir Toby Belch, Malvolio, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, respectfully) kept the audience howling with laughter with comedic banter and hilarious one-liners. Intelligent comedic timing is also seen within the jester, portrayed by Rose Bailey, who brought the show with her musical approach to embracing the warmness of her character. All in all, the supporting characters of the Herndon High School production of "Twelfth Night" contributed to making the show unforgettable.

The crew of Twelfth Night did an exceptional job of maintaining the Roarin' 20's time period while keeping the Shakespearean vernacular. Details such as the "Duke's Speakeasy" and the choice of Charleston-style music sparked the atmosphere in bringing a twist to the 17th-century comedy. The production also captured accurate makeup and fashion of the 1920's time period with flapper dresses and bold red lips, further displaying the possibility of a Shakespearean play being revamped to a more modern era.

Overall, Herndon High School's production of Twelfth Night was a memorable one for a person to watch, conveying that "if music be the food of love, play on."

Samantha Carley
Saint John Paul The Great Catholic HS
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

"If music be the food of love, play on", with these words, Herndon High School Theatre transported onlookers to a far off land filled with adventure, mystery, and astounding absurdity in their production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola, a young girl who thinks she lost her brother, Sebastian, in a shipwreck and decides to dress like him and go by the name Cesario. Hilarity ensues not long after as an unintentional love triangle develops, and the real Sebastian returns unaware of his sister's hi-jinks. Herndon High School Theatre's performance of this classic Shakespeare piece, set by the cast and crew in the roaring 20's, brought amusement, intrigue, and merriment to all through well rounded performances, and impressive technical effects.

The production was carried forward by the outstanding cast filled to the brim with impressive comedic talent. Standouts included performances by Trace Hollenbeck and Christian Bonilla Lainez as the lovable drunk revelers Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. Hollenbeck and Bonilla Lainez had incredible chemistry and played off each other wonderfully. Hollenbeck in particular had an aptitude for physical comedy that left audience laughing for the entirety of his scenes. Another standout comedic performance was that of Shivam Shrivastava's portrayal of Malvolio, a loyal steward tricked into madness. Shrivastava had impeccable diction, arguably the best among the cast, and precise comedic timing that played beautifully on stage. In the lead of Viola, Erin Maxwell shone and was accompanied by Henry Metcalf, who played her brother Sebastian. Maxwell and Metcalf controlled the stage with the demeanor of well-seasoned actors, conveying their individual character arcs amazingly. The production was tied together, however, by the astounding portrayal of the wise yet absurd Fool by actress Rose Bailey. Bailey controlled the stage, and the entire show, through her comedic presence, walking the fine line between her character's insanity and affinity for truth. Even when props broke, and lights went out Bailey continued in character carrying the rest of the cast along with her as she pushed forward with her signature hilarity. Bailey has quite the future ahead of her.

The performance was brought together seamlessly through the use of technical effects, merging the overwhelming excellence of the cast to the stage quite literally. The array of technical aspects in the show kicked off with a well executed dance number choreographed by student choreographer Erin Maxwell, welcoming all into their tale of adventure and amusement. Herndon High School Theatre made use of a moving set modeled after the periaktoi set design which consists of triangular set pieces painted a different scene on all three sides and moved accordingly throughout the production. This set choice was advantageous, and a majority of the pieces were painted with intricate detail accompanied by well placed props. These props included candles, beer bottles, and various weaponry. Sound and lighting washed a unique ambiance over each scene. Both technical aspects dazzled in an early scene depicting a shipwreck. Lighting flashed across the theatre ceiling, thunder sounded, and waves made of fabric crashed in front of the audience creating a one of a kind experience.

On the whole Herndon High School Theatre's production of The Twelfth Night was hilariously entertaining. A well rounded cast mixed with spectacular technical effects established a recipe for brilliance. A memorable quote from the show is "Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them." Herndon High School Theatre's production of The Twelfth Night did not shy away from greatness, but rather embraced it for an experience like no other.