Repercussion Theatre Presents TWELFTH NIGHT, Now thru 7/26

Repercussion Theatre, under the new artistic directorship of Amanda Kellock, presents Twelfth Night (or What You Will) from tonight, July 2 to 26, 2015 in various Montreal and surrounding area parks including a new Montreal location at the Canadian Centre for Architecture.

Known as one of Shakespeare's most perfect comedies, Twelfth Night is the raucous yet touching story of a set of separated twins desperate to find their missing half. Shakespeare's inimitable wit and masterful language is paired with hilarious physical and visual comedy, inciting tears and laughter in equal measure and sometimes simultaneously. The play explores the nature of love, loss, and longing, broaching such provocative issues as sexual identity and the nature of attraction against a lively tableau of role reversal and disguise.

"Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness ... "- Viola as Cesario

"As soon as I got the news that I was going to be the next Artistic Director of Repercussion Theatre, I knew exactly what play I wanted to do," said Ms. Kellock, who saw Twelfth Night, her first Shakespeare-in-the-Park experience, as a teen in 1994. "It was so funny yet brimming with humanity. I saw that Elizabethan issues- class distinction and inequality, gender identity- were still highly charged topics but that Shakespeare's comedic approach to them gave the play immediacy and provided a license for open dialogue. The clever device of Tudor Twelfth Night traditions turns the island of Illyria topsy-turvy, with women disguising themselves as men, servants pushing the boundaries of their station, revelry, swordplay, and drinking. We're entertained by the mischief and merriment yet as the characters experiment with what is possible, ignoring the accepted social mores, we are moved to follow their lead."

Ms. Kellock is not the only new addition to Repercussion Theatre. After exceeding its $10,000 appeal through an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign last year, a brand new all-terrain stage was recently shipped from the US. The state-of-the-art construction is stronger, safer, and lighter, with pieces that snap together to accelerate the daily set-up and strike.

The ten-member Shakespeare-in-the-Park (SITP) cast, a balanced blend of emerging and experienced Shakespearean actors, includes Letitia Brookes (Maria), Adam Capriolo (Sir Andrew), Emelia Hellman (Viola), Gitanjali Jain (Feste), Matthew Kabwe (Sir Toby), Darragh Kilkenny-Mondoux (Antonio), Rachel Mutombo (Olivia), Jesse Nerenberg (Sebastian), Mike Payette (Orsino), and Paul Rainville (Malvolio).

The playful twists and turns of the storyline are reflected in the garden labyrinth set, by Marjolaine Provençal, fitting harmoniously in its natural, outdoor locale. The costumes, designed by Evita Karasek, suggest a parallel world of an indeterminate era, familiar to contemporary audiences through the popularity of TV shows such as Game of Thrones. Music and sound design are a collaboration between Music Consultant, Rob Burns, Sound Designer, Devon Bate, with two original melodies composed for "Come Away Death" and "Oh Mistress Mine" by cast member, Gitanjali Jain, of Roma Carnivale. Rob Montcalm is the Fight Choreographer with stage management provided by Birdie Gregor, assisted by Danielle Laurin. Detailed biographies can be found on the Repercussion Theatre website at www.repercussiontheatre.com/productions/shakespeare-in-the-park/twelfth-night/the-team

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