‘Twelfth Night’ opens at Ruth N. Halls theater tonight

Full of mystery, mayhem and mistaken identity, the classic Shakespearean comedy “Twelfth Night” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. \nThe play tells the tale of Viola, a woman who is shipwrecked on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea and believes her brother died in the crash. She dresses as a boy in order to get a job, and the show takes off from there. \nSenior Allison Moody, who plays Viola, said she enjoys playing a character whose life comes full circle. \n“In the beginning, Viola believes she is all alone in the world,” Moody said. “But she eventually falls in love … and makes some great discoveries about her life, which is wonderful.” \nPlaying Viola has been Moody’s first experience with acting in a Shakespearean production. She said she prepared for her role by researching the play’s time period and practicing how to speak her lines, which are written in iambic pentameter. \nHowever, she said she doesn’t feel Shakespeare’s language is antiquated or dull. \n“The show is very fast-paced,” Moody said. “Because it’s a comedy, a lot is happening that is fun to watch.” \nHenry Worornicz, visiting associate professor of theatre and drama, directs the production.\nWorornicz, who has had four years of experience with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, said teaching young actors Shakespeare has been a wonderful experience. \n“Getting to work with (Shakespeare’s scripts) is great,” Worornicz said. “It’s the best dramatic literature ever written.” \nAlthough Worornicz has acted in three separate “Twelfth Night” productions, this is the first time he has directed the play. Worornicz said he enjoys working with IU students because of the eagerness, excitement and talent they bring to the stage. \nHe hopes the audience members will play off of that energy and have fun during the performance as lively characters and a love story emerge, he said. \n“Anyone who has fallen in love or had a crush can relate to the show,” Moody said. \n“Twelfth Night” opens today and runs Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 through March 3 in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $16 for adults and $13 for students, seniors and anyone 30 and younger (discounts Monday through Thursday only). Student rush tickets are sold the day of each performance. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the IU Auditorium.