On Nov. 8 and 9, this year’s Actors from the London Stage performed their rendition of “Twelfth Night,” bringing a taste of Shakespeare to the University of North Alabama.
AFTLS typically travel to UNA and other universities once per semester to perform one of Shakespeare’s plays. UNA’s English Department sponsors the actors’ performances at the university.
The organization has been around since 1975, and each performance centers on the use of only five actors and minimal props, with each actor playing the parts of multiple characters. By creating an immersive experience out of very little physical material, it is often said that AFTLS perform the plays “as Shakespeare originally intended.”
For the Fall 2024 semester, AFTLS performed “Twelfth Night,” featuring actors Shona Babayemi, Sarah Finigan, Sam Jenkins-Shaw, Thuliswa Magwaza and Hayden Wood.
“Twelfth Night” fits well within the traditional format of plays performed by AFTLS, as the entire play hinges on confusion and mistaken identity.
The play begins with Viola (played by Magwaza) mourning what she assumes to be the death of her twin brother Sebastian (also played by Magwaza). She decides that the way to help herself out of her situation is to disguise herself as a boy named Cesario and work for Duke Orsino (played by Jenkins-Shaw).
Though the actor herself is still playing the part, she removes her dress and reveals a loose top and pants, making her appear as a young boy. Only a few minutes into the play, the actors have already begun playing into the central themes without using many outside materials.
Cesario – Viola in disguise – is sent to woo Olivia (played by Babayemi), who Orsino is interested in, but Olivia has sworn off men. This does not stop Olivia from falling for Cesario, though she does not know the boy’s true identity. Cesario (Viola) is, of course, frightened at the notion of her discovery, but she chooses to continue to do as Orsino wishes, as she is attracted to him. From these interactions, a love triangle emerges, one which would never have occurred without Viola’s disguise.
While this love is developing, members of Olivia’s household work together to trick Malvolio (played by Wood) into thinking that Olivia is in love with him, all the while convincing him to do things that Olivia will hate. His performance of Olivia’s supposed wishes leads to her having a strong aversion to him, and the household members rejoice, as they have succeeded in tricking Malvolio.
Sebastian returns around the same time, and this begins a string of confusion surrounding characters’ identities. Sebastian’s friend Antonio (played by Finigan) defends Cesario in a duel, mistaking the boy for Sebastian. Olivia then mistakes Sebastian for Cesario, and Sebastian goes along with the confusion, with the pair ending up married. All of these events occur in rapid succession, and because Magwaza plays both Viola/Cesario and Sebastian, it is easy for the audience to get wrapped up in the same confusion as the characters.
The end of the play resolves the main conflicts, with Olivia being married to Sebastian and Orsino confirming his attraction to who he now knows as Viola.
The actors created an entertaining and immersive experience for their audiences through their strategic use of props and costuming, inflection and other distinguishing characteristics. The confusion, emphasized by the overlap of the roles played by each actor, added to the humor and entertainment of the comedy.
For any student or attendee, regardless of their experience with Shakespeare, the performances offered a first-hand experience of Shakespeare’s work in a simultaneously simple and incredibly complex manner.
