Cappies: Elmwood School’s Twelfth Night is unforgettable

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Show # 6

Elmwood School

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Twelfth Night

Director: Ms.Rebecca Benson

Assistant Director: Camilla Thomson

Bridget O’Neill, Critic
Holy Trinity Catholic High School

Will love conquer all? Or will the madness of mistaken identities leave us all in stitches? Welcome to Illyria, where unrequited love rules in Elmwood School’s impassioned production of Twelfth Night.

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With this production set in the Roaring Twenties in Illyria, New York, Twelfth Night follows the comical story of Viola, a young woman who disguises herself as a man named Cesario to secure a job after being shipwrecked and losing her brother as a result. While working for Duke Orsino in her male disguise, Viola falls deeply in love with him. But here’s the twist: Duke Orsino is infatuated with the beautiful Olivia Madden, who becomes enamoured with Viola, mistaking her for a man. As misunderstandings and comedic situations unravel, this complicated love triangle explores themes of love, mistaken identity, and the absurdity of human emotions.

Through the collaboration of colourful costumes, dynamic set design, and lively music, Twelfth Night sparkled with a remarkable set and characters fueled with emotion. From foolish behaviour to signature squabbles, this show’s atmosphere successfully embraced comical aspects from start to finish. The mix of comedy, romance, and mistaken identities delivered by an organized cast and crew elevated this Shakespearean classic to a mesmerizing performance that is as captivating as it is unforgettable.

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The deceiving Viola, portrayed by Tess Kowal, was compelling. Embodying quick wit and determination, Kowal’s performance as Viola made for a multifaceted character, presenting a journey through self-discovery and transformation. Kowal’s seamless line delivery and serious manner highlighted the role, which did not go unrecognized.

YiFou (Mia) Cheng’s performance as the pompous Malvolio was very professional. Embodying a strict and serious character, Cheng successfully embraced self-righteousness through impressive voice projection and upright physicality. As Maria, Rowyn Pratte maintained excellent energy throughout the show and did an exceptional job of playing off other characters. Pratte was consistent with mannerisms and had genuine facial expressions to highlight the clever role of Maria. From balancing hats to mocking Malvolio, Lorrie Whiten’s role as the comical Sir Andrew Aguecheek highlighted the character. When paired with Toby Belch, played by Freida Kaplan-Myrth, the inseparable drunken duo bounced off each other with electrifying chemistry. Madelaine Delaney as the quick-witted and sassy Olivia Madden embodied exaggerated facial expressions and stage presence to always get a point across. Zara Kochar’s impressive performance as the Club Singer struck the production with melodious singing to set the mood and convey deep emotions within the play. As the striking Duke Orsino, Hannah Vermeij’s dominant presence made for a commanding stand-out character with a touch of intimidation and superiority. Usha Patterson’s memorable performance as Fabienne allowed for a humorous performance through comedic interactions and awkward situations, such as when Patterson could be seen hiding behind a tree to avoid Malvolio.

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The play employed a range of technical elements to enhance the storytelling. Elaborate set designs, props, and vintage costume choices established the setting and time period. Additionally, authentic music played by the students set the mood and accentuated key moments. The use of lighting played a crucial role in establishing the atmosphere and highlighting dramatic moments in the production. The hair and makeup were appropriate to the time period and enhanced each character’s personality. Thanks to Temi Adekeye, the choreography shaped much of the entertainment, including a couple of dances throughout the play.

With mistaken identities entangled in a complicated love triangle, Elmwood School’s enthralling production of Twelfth Night proved that love can be unpredictable but always finds a way to lead us to where we truly belong.

About the reviews:

The  Elmwood School production was reviewed by 31 critics representing 5 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Jenny Sheffield of Almonte and District High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Electra Hatzopoulos of A.Y. Jackson Secondary School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

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Next review: Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School’s production of Almost, Maine.

About the Cappies:

The Citizen and 21 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, D.C.based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Two schools from other boards in the region and one private school have also joined. The four winners of the lead acting categories will receive a bursary provided by the international law firm Gowling WLG Canada LLP. Follow Canada’s Capital Cappies on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram @OttawaCappies.

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