Production Tips for Twelfth Night, or What You Will
cutting and notes by John Minigan from the original by Shakespeare
After a shipwreck, Viola finds herself stranded on the shores of Ilyria, disguised as a boy, and falling in love with her boss. And that's just the beginning! Love, comedy, and confusion abound in Twelfth Night.
Average Producer Rating:
Tips from past Producers
I would encourage any director to consider a play even though the number and sex of the actors doesn't match the script! We had several females that had to play male characters, and even a Feste that was too shy to sing! We also had a very low budget, but sewed some costumes ourselves and borrowed some from a local high school. Our props were simple, but adequate. Pulling our resources together, we were able to have a production that cost very little, but provide a valuable experience for all of us.
My kids were grumpy about my choice to tackle Shakespeare this season, but I think it ended up being their favorite show of the year. We really played with physicality and pushed the physical humor with our trio of drunkards. I also took a more of unique approach to music by having Feste sing and play acoustic guitar with a kind of 90s alternative rock modern-vibe. I was fortunate to have a talented kid who was able to pull it off.