STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Every summer Sun Valley vacationers in innertubes capsize on the Warm Springs Creek that rushes past Rotary Park, forcing homeowners along the river to rescue them and return them to their hotels.
Tonight the spectre of a shipwreck will take place in the park itself. But this, by contrast, will lead to a madcap comedy revolving around mistaken identities and a romantic triangle.
Sun Valley Shakespeare Festival will stage “Twelfth Night through Aug. 19 in a new location at Ketchum’s Rotary Park near the Wood River YMCA.
William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy revolves around twins Viola and Sebastian who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola, who disguises herself as a page named Cesario, falls in love with the Duke Orsino. But, alas, the Duke has fallen in love with Olivia, a wealthy countess who, in turn, has fallen in love with Viola, thinking she is a man.
The play inspired the movie “Some Like It Hot,” which starred Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe.
“The play is special in that it’s a comedy that has zany silliness, but it also has deep messages: What does it mean to disguise yourself, for instance?” said Aly Wepplo, who plays the royal jester.
“It’s such a delightful play,” said Naomi McDougall Jones, who plays the noblewoman Olivia. “Each set of characters is ridiculously delightful. I get excited every time a new set of characters comes on because it’s so fun.”
Will Hemmings, who plays several characters, has a fond place in his heart for “Twelfth Night.” The first line he ever uttered on stage was for a Sun Valley Community School production of “Twelfth Night.” And a few years later he was cast in Sun Valley’s Shakespeare’s first production of “Twelfth Night.”
Now his 10-year-old son Tal Hemmings is about to utter his first line on stage in this latest incarnation of the play.
“I love the comedy, the little bit of madcap, the mistaken identities,” Will said. “And I like the new setting—it’s beautiful and shady.”
“This hits all the checkmarks of Shakespeare,” added Matt Musgrove. “The classes--royalty and groundlings, romance and comedy, mistaken identities…”
The play features professional actors from New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, in addition to local actors. Aubrey Lace Taylor will play the role of Viola; Matt Musgrove, Orsino; Naomi McDougal Jones, Olivia; David Janeski, Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s uncle, and Ayabonga Mani, Sebastian.
Matt Gorby plays the ship captain; Sean Cleary, Malvolio; Patsy Wygle, the housekeeper Mariah; Jacob Sefcak, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a friend of Sir Toby’s; Aly Wepplo, the jester Feste; Karen Nelsen, Antonia. Olemich Tuas will play Valentine/Fabian; Will Hemings a curio, officer and priest; John Lewis, an officer, and Tal Hemmings, Olivia’s servant.
The director, from New York City, is Colton Pometta, who has directed Sun Valley Shakespeare in the Park before.
The play debuts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 and continues Aug. 11-13, 15-16 and 18-19. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students 18 and under, available at www.laughingstocktheater.com.