Twelfth Night

Written by William Shakespeare

In William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Romantic love, family love and even the love of love are all presented, as is the question of appearance and reality.

Inferno Theatre presents Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare in Alison Carey’s modern translation commissioned by Play On Shakespeare at Berkeley’s John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre. Twelfth Night's comedy and romance soar amid mistaken identities, a wedding, misunderstandings, physical comedy, and a happy ending. “What You Will”, the subtitle of the play, invites us to think about pleasure, and sexual fantasies. Almost all the characters are afflicted with the same disease: love. But, in the end, as in all the romantic comedies of Shakespeare, it is based on love leading to marriage.

Twelfth Night is a play about love and mistaken identities. Separated from her twin brother, Sebastian, and disguised as a boy, Viola works for the Duke Orsino, with whom she has fallen in love. Orsino, in love with the Countess Olivia, sends Viola to court her for him, but Olivia falls for Viola instead. Sebastian arrives, causing a flood of mistaken identity, and marries Olivia. Viola then reveals she is a girl and marries Orsino.

This production is directed and designed by award winning theater artist Giulio Cesare Perrone who joyously directs this colorful production and brings comedy and romance back to Berkeley. Twelfth Night will delight you with slapstick humor generated by Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, and Malvolio. Inferno Theatre is thrilled to partner with Play On Shakespeare to present Shakespeare's poetic world using a translation that makes it more accessible to modern audiences.

Pack your picnic basket, bring the whole family, and immerse yourself in this enchanted world of music, movement, and magic. Let Inferno Theatre lead you on a marvelous romp, filled with Shakespearean verse, compelling physical theater, fantasy, ensemble music, and amazing slapstick.

Dramatis Personæ / Cast

ORSINO, Joshua - Morris Williams
CURIO & OFFICER Osvaldo Mora
VIOLA, Vaughn Easterday
SEA CAPTAIN, & MALVOLIO, UNDERSTUDY Alec Brown
SIR TOBY BELCH, Ronnie Anderson
MARIA, Aero England
SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK, Valentina Emeri
FESTE, Sylvia Abrams-Wolffsohn
LADY OLIVIA, Liddy Freeman
MALVOLIO, Torey Bookstein
ANTONIO, Bailey Sanders
SEBASTIAN, Paul Bisesi

Team

Playwright - William Shakespeare
Modern verse translation - Alison Carey
Director, Set, Costume Designer - Giulio Cesare Perrone
Music Director and Singer - Torey Bookstein
Ukulele and singer - Vaughn Easterday
Singer - Sylvia Abrams-Wolffsohn
Sword Choreographer - Nicolas Moore

ACCESSIBILITY
The first few rows of the amphitheater will be reserved as a courtesy for those with limited mobility. Call (510) 825-0449 to reserve one of those spots. Access is best from Somerset Place, take Southampton from Arlington and continue straight onto Somerset Place. However, note that renovations to the park have eliminated the parking lot that previously existed next to the amphitheater - please consider using public transportation, riding your bicycle, or parking on the neighboring streets of Southampton Avenue, Arlington Avenue, and San Diego Road. Please be courteous to those who live in the neighborhood.

The amphitheater is wheelchair accessible with a drop-off location on Somerset in front of the amphitheater. There is (only) one handicapped parking space next to the drop-off location (first-come/first-served).

The amphitheater consists of a series of stone terraces. Bring low lawn chairs, pillows/cushions, and/or blankets.

Questions and/or reservations for accessible seating?
Write to InfernoTheatreCompany@gmail.com, or call (510) 825-0449

FREE ADMISSION

DATES
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Sunday, May 18
Saturday, May 24
Sunday, May 25
Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)
Saturday, May 31
Sunday, June 1
Saturday, June 7
Sunday, June 8

TIME
Amphitheater opens at 3 pm**
All performances start at 4 pm

**Spots are first-come first-serve, so arrive early to save your seat.

LOCATION
John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre
41 Somerset Place
Berkeley, CA