MADC's production of Twelfth Night promises a few surprises including somewhat unusual music. Simone Spiteri speaks to Rachel Agius.
“It is the cast and their energy that make all the difference,” says Simone Spiteri. We are talking about the Malta Amateur Dramatics Club (MADC) production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and the hesitation some people feel when faced with the Bard’s work.
“Although a trained ear will better understand the finer points of the dialogue, the messages in Shakespeare’s work are universally applicable. This is why his plays have had such staying power over the centuries.”
Spiteri plays Viola and Cesario in a comedy of deception, mistaken identities, love triangles and intertwined story lines.
“I have watched Shakespearean plays abroad, in languages I did not understand but the themes and crucial elements of the plays still come across clearly. The cast’s confidence and engagement with the script convey so much that even without understanding a word, the plays come to life.”
Every year, the MADC puts on one of William Shakespeare’s plays, alternating between tragedy and comedy plays.
The MADC’s consistently popular performances make them both a mainstay in the local entertainment scene as well as some of the most highly anticipated events in the theatrical calendar.
This year’s production promises the audience a few surprises, including a somewhat unusual choice of music and a new take on the traditional costume.
An exciting ensemble piece, Twelfth Night is fast-paced and fun. Its dynamic cast, a mix of familiar faces and new talent, ensures that even fledgling theatre goers will have much to appreciate. As one of the most studied playwrights in British history, watching Shakespeare’s plays acted out is of immeasurable benefit to students and academics alike.
“It’s kind of like reading about world famous sites and then actually visiting them,” explains Spiteri.
“Shakespeare is after all something of a literary monument! Besides, the plays are much easier to understand when they are acted out rather than read. They were written for stage performance and it is that medium which most accurately recreates what Shakespeare intended his audience to see.”
Her role as Viola and Cesario, her male alter-ego and cover-up in a foreign land, is becoming her favourite, although the moustache gets a little uncomfortable at times.
“I have had to observe men and the way they move and talk. It’s not simply a matter of wearing men’s clothes.”
It has been an intense few weeks for the cast. “Because Dave (Barton), our director, is only on the island briefly, we have had to really work hard to bring it all together in a short space of time. Everyone knew their lines before rehearsals started and we are meeting every evening to practice,” says Spiteri.
Barton, hailing from California, has brought a colourful, contemporary vibrancy to a play written over 400 years ago. Even with that kind of history, Shakespeare’s plays remain refreshingly relevant today. The political struggles, human relationships and perspectives on society depicted in his work are familiar and keep making sense to audiences across the ages.
“There’s an adage that says you never read the same Shakespeare twice and I tend to agree. Every reading, every performance and every interpretation reveals new facets to the work, all of which are remarkably resonant to this day.”
One major challenge in the production of Shakespeare’s plays is the element of audience imagination.
“The Elizabethan stage could not handle some effects, like storms or battles, and yet through vivid description, the audience was given the tools with which to create these scenes themselves,” says Spiteri.
“Nowadays, through computer generated imagery, 3D cinema and so on, which contemporary audiences have come to expect, a play with minimal props may seem lacking.”
Could it be that the media we are exposed to today has numbed us to the power of the imagination?
“With a production like this, the audience’s capacity to suspend their disbelief, focus their attention and really listen to the dialogue is crucial to the understanding and appreciation of the performance.”
Who would enjoy Twelfth Night? “Anyone: from youths to the dedicated Shakespeare buffs,” says Spiteri.
“I think those studying Shakespeare would find the play very helpful to their education and even those with no experience of Shakespeare at all can enjoy it.”
So for those Shakespeare veterans itching to revel in a night of cross-dressing confusion, love-struck silliness and a bit of trickery, or those simply looking for a different night out, Twelfth Night might be just the ticket. After all, over 400 years of performance can’t be wrong.
Twelfth Night will be staged at the open air Greek Theatre in the grounds of the Maria Regina Lyceum Blata L-Bajda on Saturday, Sunday and July 8, 9 and 10. Bookings can be made online at www.madc.biz with shows starting at 8.30 pm.