Ithaca College

Ithaca College Theatre will present “Twelfth Night,” Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identities, bewildering desires, practical jokes, and ribald revelry. Performances will be held at 8:00 p.m. on April 18, 20, 21, and 22, with 2:00 p.m. matinees on April 22 and 23. All performances will be held in the Hoerner Theatre at Dillingham Center.

Drawing upon the carnivalesque spirit Elizabethans associated with Twelfth Night (the Feast of the Epiphany in the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches), the play presents a world where social norms are disregarded and desire seems to gain free reign. The possibilities Shakespeare presents most likely shocked the rigid Puritans of his time, and might still upset conservative audiences today. The majority of his characters are the wealthy and the beautiful, who have the freedom and security to follow their sensuous impulses and, possibly, consummate them. Shakespeare gives us hints of homoerotic, heteroerotic, lesbian, gay, transvestite, and even incestuous love.

The main character, Viola, trades her “woman’s weeds” for the clothes of her beloved and, supposedly, dead brother, Sebastian. Now known as Cesario, she earns the love of the Countess Olivia, who believes Viola is a man. However, Viola is in love with the narcissistic Orsino, who believes he is love with Olivia. During his fits of affected romantic despair, though, Orsino reveals that he actually has feelings for Cesario. Sprinkle into this sumptuous stew the ridiculous longings of the self-righteous Malvolio and the jovial interjections of Sir Toby Belch and the fool Feste, and “Twelfth Night” becomes a romantic misadventure filled with many twists and turns and gender-bending surprises.

Director Greg Bostwick’s production takes place in the present on the Mediterranean coast and focuses on the fluidity of desire. The characters promenade in their eye-popping costumes as unicycles and skateboards whiz by. Bostwick, a professor of theatre arts at the College, has directed scores of plays and also maintains an active career as a professional actor, having performed regionally in over 70 roles.

“Twelfth Night” is appropriate for audiences 14 years of age and older. Tickets can be purchased at the Ithaca College Theatre ticket office in Dillingham Center, the Clinton House Ticket Center, and Cornell University’s Willard Straight Hall. Ticket prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (203) 260-9508. For more information call (607) 274-3224 or visit www.ithacaevents.com.