Annapolis Shakespeare Company Newest Resident at Bowie Playhouse

The summer myth of talented teens putting on a great show in an empty barn dates back to 1930s Hollywood when Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney first sang their way to fame.  Now closer to home we can discover at Bowie Playhouse new magic being created by 20 mostly teen-age actors who are currently realizing their dream by performing a Shakespeare comedy for their first show as the newest Bowie Playhouse resident company.

The Annapolis Shakespeare Company began in summer 2009 as a small workshop taught by Sally Boyett-D’Angelo, who founded the company in fall 2010. After successful productions of The Taming of the Shrew and Hamlet the young company received grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and from the City of Bowie Arts Committee that allowed it to become the newest of the four resident companies at Bowie Playhouse.

Last Thursday August 11 Annapolis Shakespeare Company opened a two weekend Thursday through Saturday run of Shakespeare’s timeless Twelfth Night that tells a hilarious tale of love and mistaken identity. 

When I caught the show on Friday, the celebratory mood was still much alive. Most exciting, the large audience had a teen-age component of at least one third, all most appreciative, laughing at the actors’ antics conveying the Bard’s timeless wit.

Before the performance began Director Boyett-D’Angelo explained that age 13 to 21 cast and crew were all students who had spent only three weeks in intensive rehearsal.  This fine production is a testament to Boyett-D’Angelo’s directorial skills and to those of her assistants. 

The five accomplished young orchestra musicians are also students. Music Director Irma Cripe of the National Philharmonic Orchestra is a music educator at Rockbridge Academy in Millersville, and has well prepared these young Annapolis Shakespeare musicians.  Impressed by their professionalism, I asked Boyett-D’Angelo about the orchestra members and learned they performed so well on their own without a conductor on Friday evening.

Everything about this Twelfth Night production is first-rate from costumes to staging to lighting with every scene so well-choreographed that seamless scene changes involving cast members moving props become part of the evening’s entertainment.

Every cast member delivers a praiseworthy performance, and among the standouts are Rockbridge Academy 11th grade student Madeleine Stevens who gives a polished performance in the dual roles of Viola and male page Cesario.  Andrea Hurley is convincing as Olivia, courted by Cesario whom she fancies on behalf of Duke Orsino whose pleas she ignores.

Crafty and seductive servant Maria is well played by Rockbridge senior Liesl McClintock, who also served as a rehearsal assistant.  King’s College, New York student Alex Foley, who served as assistant director is excellent in the role of Sir Toby Belch. Grove City College student Stephen Horst is another outstanding actor in the part of the much maligned Malvolio.

Performances continue this weekend Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm with a Saturday matinee performance scheduled for 2 pm August 20.  Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for adults and are available online at AnnapolisShakespeare.org or by calling the Box Office at 410-703-1289.