When you’re a classic theater company opening a new home, you must be mindful in choosing the play for your inaugural production.
It’s an important decision. After all, you only get one chance to open the first show. It sets the tone for what the new theater means not only to your company but to your community. The play must be a story imbued with positive elements. When I learned that Gamut Theatre Group’s first production in its new theater would be William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” I immediately thought: “Of course. ‘Twelfth Night’ is the sweet spot.”
“Twelfth Night” could very well be Shakespeare’s greatest gift to any theater. It inevitably brings out the best in everyone. Few plays offer so many chances for actors to shine and for audiences to relish in the hilarious and rich journey. The play is full of what the Bard does best: ploys, mistaken identity, music, revenge, redemption, an enigmatic clown and characters who become more and more self-aware with every line they speak. Whether you’re a theatergoer or a theater practitioner, “Twelfth Night” is likely on your bucket list.
One of the most attractive qualities of “Twelfth Night” is the tragic nature of its comedy. In fact, for a Shakespearean comedy, “Twelfth Night” is full of characters with decidedly unfunny back stories: The Duke Orsino, whose soul is decaying from unrequited love; the Countess Olivia, who is stagnant in a seven-year mourning over the death of her brother; the protagonist Viola, who disguises herself as a man as both a means of protection and mourning as she believes her twin brother Sebastian has died in the horrific shipwreck she survived (Shakespeare’s son Hamnett, the twin brother of his daughter Judith, died suddenly of the plague just a few years before he wrote “Twelfth Night”); the servant Malvolio, who is so repressed and void of joy that his name in Italian literally translates to “I dislike.” Not exactly characters you’d expect to find in one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated comedies.
The laughter and brilliance of “Twelfth Night” lie in its timeless theme of transformation. Each character will experience a transformation so significant, uplifting, and, yes, humorous, one can’t help but delight in the change. Whether it’s the Duke Orsino discovering love in the most unexpected of places, Olivia allowing grief to take a backseat to desire, Viola revealing her identity to experience one of the most moving of Shakespearean reunions, or Malvolio falling in love the moment he realizes he is capable of feeling it, “Twelfth Night” shows us not only who we are, but who we hope to become. This theme of transformation—of honoring the past while looking to the future—is Artistic Director J. Clark Nicholson’s concept for Gamut’s “Twelfth Night.”
Gamut’s production celebrates this theme of new growth from fertile beginnings in exciting ways and is perhaps best illustrated by the actors themselves. For more than two decades, Gamut has employed a full-time company of professional artists in Harrisburg. Through the years, many actors have come and gone, but a number have stayed, choosing to make Harrisburg their home. The cast of “Twelfth Night” consists of current and former company members, including several actors who have served in a similar capacity over the years. The role of the “fair behaviored” Sea Captain, a pivotal character who mysteriously disappears after one scene, will be played by a different former company member each night—some traveling from states away. The result is a cast demographic of new and familiar faces representing not only the theme of growth, but where the company has been and where it is going.
“Twelfth Night” is not so much the best choice to open Gamut’s new home, but really, the only choice. The final lines of the play perhaps illustrate this best. This is not a spoiler by any means—after all, you’ve had nearly 400 years to read “Twelfth Night.” The play ends with a song from Feste, the mysterious clown:
“A great while ago the world began,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
But that’s all one, our play is done
And we’ll strive to please you every day.”
Four hundred years ago, this was Shakespeare’s beautiful promise to his audience. Now, as Gamut opens its new home in November, this is their promise to you.
Gamut Theatre is located at 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 238-4111 or visit www.gamuttheatre.org.
NOVEMBER THEATRE EVENTS
at Harrisburg’s Professional Downtown Theatres
Nov. 6
GAMUT THEATRE GRAND OPENING
11 am to 2 pm
Ribbon cutting with Mayor Eric Papenfuse
Cake & refreshments will be served
Open to the community to tour Gamut’s new facility
Nov. 7 to Nov. 29
TWELFTH NIGHT
The inaugural performance at the newGamut Theatre
Select Medical Mainstage
Tickets at GamutTheatre.org
- Saturday, Nov. 7: Opening Night with “Meet the Cast & Crew” reception
- Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
- Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
- Fridays: Tickets BOGO (buy one, get one free)
- Sundays: Tickets BYOP (bring your own price)—any size donation buys a ticket
Nov. 27 to Dec. 13
PETER, HOOK, & THE DARLINGS
The classic story as you’ve never seen it before,Thursdays to Sundays, at Open Stage of Harrisburg, with these special events:
- Friday Nov. 27: Opening Night with reception
- Dec. 3 & Dec. 10: Thrifty Thursdays with a limited number of $15 tickets sponsored by PSEA
- Sunday Dec. 6: 2 pm matinee includes post-show discussion
