Penn State Fayette’s Shakespeare Festival shows why famed playwright still matters
Malvolio (Benjamin DeCamp Cole) surprises Olivia (Jamie Boller) with his outfit as Maria (Deidre Staples) watches her plan unfold. (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)
The Fools Sir Andrew (David Reece Hutchison), Feste (Alanna McNaughton), and Sir Toby (Josh Bierman) rock out to B52’s “Love Shack.” (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)
Colin Hovde
Olivia (Jamie Boller) attempts to woo Cesario (Zoe Wohlfeld), who is really Viola in disguise. (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)
Benjamin DeCamp Cole reveals Malvolio’s rendition of yellow stockings and cross-garters. (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)
Alice Kabia (left) and Hugh Raup (right) as Antonio and Sebastian. (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)
Colin Hovde
Feste (Alanna McNaughton) attempts to console the Countess Olivia (Jamie Boller) with music. (Photo: C. Stanley Photography)
Still pertinent today are ideas about love explored in the romantic comedy “Twelfth Night,” featured in the upcoming 47th annual Shakespeare Festival that’s offered free of charge at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus in Lemont Furnace.
“While ‘Twelfth Night’ was written many years ago, the fact is humans still haven’t learned how to deal with love, and I don’t mean that to be a bad thing. Love can be all-consuming and so intense, but isn’t it amazing to experience such an emotion fully? Love turns their worlds upside down, and we need some of that,” noted Rebecca Dzida, community engagement and touring coordinator for The National Players, which presents “Twelfth Night” at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the campus’ Community Center.
A press release for the National Players, based in Olney, Maryland, explained the plot: “Shipwrecked and alone, Viola disguises herself as a boy and enters into Duke Osino’s servant. Lovesick Orsino sends her to court the Lady Olivia, but Olivia is much more interested in this cute young newcomer. When, unbeknownst to her, Viola’s twin brother Sebastian also washes ashore, a merry brand of chaos ensues.”
Director Jenna Duncan said in the press release, “I know that in matters of love, we’ve still not learned how to remain sane, rational, calm or clear-headed. While it may not always be convenient in our lives, this truth keeps Shakespeare’s play timeless. With so many differences dividing humans in our world today, I’m thrilled to be exploring a universal similarity among us: the capability for love to turn our worlds completely upside down.”
Dr. Dennis Brestensky, of Hopwood, retired Penn State professor who founded the festival, said Shakespeare’s romantic comedies are “an anecdote to all the negative stuff in the world — not just today but always. Shakespeare’s tragedies reflect the negative side of human nature but Shakespeare had a balanced vision of life. He had a tragic vision but he also had a comic vision.”
“Twelfth Night” is one of two productions the National Players will perform at Penn State Fayette during the festival. “Around the World in 80 Days” can be seen at 11 a.m. Oct. 23, also in the Magerko Auditorium.
Based on the novel by Jules Verne, “Around the World” takes place in 1872 as Phileas Fogg makes a fantastic wager.
“Phileas Fogg is able to travel around the world in 80 days because of the technical innovations of the time. We’re exploring this by staging a multimedia production,” observed Dzida, who explained the company is filming and creating projections in real time on stage. “Technology is essential to our production, and who controls the camera at certain moments is also key to how we tell this story. Phileas Fogg is a man of means who doesn’t necessarily pay attention to the people around him, but by getting out of his comfort zone, he starts paying attention to all he’s missing.”
While Verne wrote his story nearly 150 years ago, director Jared Mezzochi noted in a press release, “”It seems more relevant than ever to ask what it means to master technology, manipulate technology and, ultimately overcome technology in today’s world.”
In addition, the festival includes acting demonstrations at Magerko Auditorium by the National Players on Oct. 22: “Commanding the Room,” from 11:15 to 12:15 p.m. and “Take Shakespeare from Page to Stage” from 12:15 to 2 p.m.
Shakespeare exhibits will be on display Oct. 22-26 at the Penn State library and the lobby in front of Magerko Auditorium. The library will feature Shakespeare books, videos, CDs, DVDs, exhibits of Shakespeare represented in pop culture, a facsimile of Shakespeare’s first folio (a collection of his works) from 1623, and a model of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The lobby will feature Brestensky’s photo exhibit of Shakespeare’s Strafford and a display of creative student Shakespeare projects.
Brestensky explained, “The festival offers quality cultural experiences for our students and the general community. They get to see live, classical drama performed by well-trained, professional, engaging actors free of charge without leaving town.”
Financial support for the National Players to visit Penn State Fayette comes from the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium Endowment and Anonymous Donor Advised Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation of Fayette County.
Brestensky also thanked those at the campus who help make the festival possible, including Chad Long and Rebecca Johnson, student affairs; John Skinkis, media department; Amy Mihalko and Gerry Dorobish, library; Lynn Petko, English department; and Dr. Charles Patrick, chancellor; along with Jeffrey Martin, a local Shakespeare popular culture collector.
Brestensky founded the festival to foster interest in Shakespeare.
“Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed — not to be read,” said Brestensky, noting, “If you see a good performance of the play, you’ll understand and appreciate it better. And I have a lot of people who say that. My goal is always to find a good company to bring Shakespeare alive and that’s why I stay with the National Players.”
This is the 20th year the National Players have been at Penn State Fayette. The company is also celebrating its 70th year.
Dzida noted Penn State Fayette is “one of the best experiences we have.”
She pointed out, “It’s important for us to fulfill the needs of the communities we visit. Sometimes, that’s teaching acting skills in workshops to young students, who may not have found their voices yet. Sometimes it’s lighting a spark for an audience member to view something in a new perspective, based on our shows. National Players has worked with students, seniors, the incarcerated as well as people with disabilities. We’re visiting over 50 cities this year, touring in 23 states. This means National Players touches the lives of thousands of people each year. With seventy years of touring under our belt, that total number is over 3 million.”
The festival is free to the public but those attending shows are asked to call ahead for reservations at 724-430-4244.