The theater department at the University of Minnesota-Duluth is preparing to produce “Twelfth Night.” It’s the usual Shakespearean comedy about mistaken identity, but as directors and assistant directors Lou Divine and Jenna Soleo-Shanks tell us, we can expect more. It’s set in the 1960s, an era closer to the one we live in, making it easier to resonate with.
They told us to expect music, “There’s a band on stage. That allows us to expect music throughout. They’re kind of like the Beatles, but we call them ‘Illyrian Drifts’ because it happened in Illyria.”
“The plot itself is a spectacle. We have drunks, we have clowns, we have characters in cross-dressing. Misidentifications. The whole thing revolves around a love triangle. A lot of misdirection and confusion.” The play itself overcomes the conventions of class and gender.
Lou told us we would laugh if we went, “I’ve definitely learned how to work with actors and follow their instincts to create funny scenes. We have a lot of clowns and they’re super funny, so they bring a lot to the table .”
If you’re not a Shakespeare fan, Jenna tells us you can still enjoy this Twelfth Night. “We’ll be in in two hours. So, if you think Shakespeare is a real investment of your time, know it’s just entertainment.”
If you decide to go:
February 7-11, 2023 | 7:30pm
February 11-12, 2023 | 2pm
ASL Performance: Sunday, February 12, 2023 | 2pm
Main Stage at the Marshal Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets can be purchased online.
