07-27-01

By Mark Floyd, 541-737-0788
SOURCE: Marion O. Rossi, 541-737-4917

CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will present "Twelfth Night," one of William Shakespeare's best-known and most beloved comedies, during a six-night run beginning Aug. 9 at OSU's Withycombe Hall theater.

This is the third consecutive year OSU has offered a Shakespearean comedy as its summer fare, following on last year's "Love's Labor's Lost" and 1999's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"Twelfth Night" is an entertaining romp that looks at the shifting relationship between festivity and austerity. It revolves around a brother-sister pair of twins who are shipwrecked and cast ashore at separate places on the coast of Illyria, each thinking the other has drowned.

For protection, Viola (J.J. Shurtleff) disguises herself as a male page and takes service with a duke named Orsino (Chris Hirsh).

Immediately, she falls in love with him, but Orsino is unsuccessfully courting the beautiful Countess Olivia (Kimberly Gifford). Orsino sends his page to convince the countess to accept him, but Olivia falls deeply in love with the surprised and disguised messenger.

Meanwhile, Olivia's hard-drinking uncle, Sir Toby Belch (J.C. Howry) and his companion, Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Riddle Bjorklund), team up with Olivia's handmaiden, Maria (Marianne Brown), to play a series of pranks and hoaxes against Malvolio (Damian Arlyn), Olivia's bossy and moralistic steward.

Into this sea of confusion suddenly steps the other twin, Sebastian (Phillip Meyer), who adds yet another layer of hilarity and complexity to the entertainingly devious plot.

The University Theatre production of "Twelfth Night" involves 20 cast members that include OSU students and alumni, high school students, community members, local residents, and area students attending other universities.

Marion O. Rossi Jr., a faculty member with OSU's University Theatre, directs the play. The costumes for "Twelfth Night" were designed by another theater faculty member, Barbara Mason, and suggest the play's somewhat updated setting --- the mid-19th century.

OSU associate professor Richard George designed the clever, changing sets; UO student David George is production stage manager and lighting designer; OSU student Jen Waters is assistant director; and Emily Chovanec, a student at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, is production assistant.

Original music for the play was composed and arranged by local musician Sally Adler.

Performance dates for "Twelfth Night" are Aug. 9-11 and Aug. 16-18, with curtain time at 7:30 p.m. for each performance. Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $7 for seniors, and $6 for students. They may be reserved beginning Aug. 6 by calling the University Theatre box office at 541-737-2784.

The Withycombe Hall theater is located at 30th and Campus Way in Corvallis.

The cast and crew of "Twelfth Night" is listed below:

• Beaverton: Amy Alexander, an OSU senior in theater, as a Lady; J.J. Shurtleff, an OSU senior in theater, as Viola.

• Bend: Marianne Brown, an OSU senior in theater, as Maria.

• Corvallis: Riddle Bjorklund, a community member, as Sir Andrew Aguecheek; Kevin Bowles, an OSU master's student in speech, as Curio; John Carone, a community member, as a sea captain and a servant; Emily Chovanec, a senior at Crescent Valley High School, as production assistant; Ella Dauw, a freshman at Boston University, as Feste; Amy Edwards, an OSU freshman in theater, as a Lady; David George, a University of Oregon junior, stage manager; Kimberly Gifford, a 1994 OSU graduate, as Olivia; Jeremy Griffin, a junior at Corvallis High School, as a sailor and an officer; Chris Hirsh, a University of Oregon freshman, as Orsino; J.C. Howry, an OSU senior in speech communication, as Sir Toby Belch; Kelsey King, an OSU senior in English, as a Lady; Phillip Meyer, a University of Oregon junior, as Sebastian; Michael Olsen, a senior in business, as Valentine.

• Portland: Erik Potempa, an OSU senior in business, as Fabian.

• Prineville: Hugh Thompson, an OSU senior in music, as Antonio.

• Oklahoma
  Chikasha: Russell Standridge, an OSU senior in liberal arts, as a sailor and a priest.

• West Virginia

  Charleston: Damian Arlyn portrays Malvolio.

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