(Cover Photo: Christopher Lichtenberg as “Feste” in a scene from  William Shakespeare's "TWELFTH NIGHT" now playing at Infinity Performing Arts in Hopedale, MA. through August 16, 2026. Photo Courtesy Infinity Performing Arts)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

"Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?"  

                                                                       - (“Sir Toby”) / William Shakespeare (Act II, Scene III)

Infinity Performing Arts

 Presents William Shakespeare's

"TWELFTH NIGHT"

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Jim Porter

Cast Includes: Saoirse Curran as “Viola,” Joshua Raymond as “Duke Orsino,” Lillian Kelly as “Olivia,” Mark Prokes as “Sir Toby Belch,” Michael Lifshits as “Sir Andrew Aguecheek,” Savanna White-Jagelski as “Maria,” Yaitza Rodriguez as “Malvolio,” Jake Terreden as “Sebastian,” Mak Khan as “Antonio,” Christopher Lichtenberg as “Feste,” Maria DiMatteo as “Fabian/Curio,” Kyle Bunker as “Captain/Officer/Valentine.”

Performances:

August 7, 2026 through August 16, 2026 

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

All performances to be held at Hopedale Unitarian Parish 65 Hopedale Street Hopedale, MA 01747

TICKETS:

hello@infinityperforming.com

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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)

Infinity Performing Arts  enjoys the summery outdoors with William Shakespeare’s "TWELFTH NIGHT" now playing in Hopedale. 

Occasionally referred to by its alternate title “What You Will” the two-act play is a romantic comedy. 

Approximated to have been written around 1601–1602, "TWELFTH NIGHT" explores how human beings trick themselves through love, grief and social ambition. 

The first documented public performance took place in 1602. 

However, the play itself in written form was not officially published until its inclusion in the 1623 First Folio. 

With the Bard suggesting that true wisdom comes from dropping false masks, the Infinity Performing Arts’ staging of "TWELFTH NIGHT" has characters who are forced to accept life's foolishness. 

These characters learn to balance intense, obsessive emotions with a sense of humor and thus bowing to the absurdity of it all. 

The main story focuses on Viola (Saoirse Curran), an attractive young woman who disguises herself as a page named Cesario, and her twin brother, Sebastian (Jake Terreden). 

The twins are separated as a result of a shipwreck along the coast of Illyria. 

In the Infinity Performing Arts' production, the story of "TWELFTH NIGHT," while taking place in Illyria, is backdropped in modern-day Provincetown, with the staging by director Jim Porter imbued with concepts of identity, disguise and gender fluidity, well executed by the actors.   

As in most Shakespeare’s stories, love hits characters lightning fast- instantly - acting more like a sudden sickness or a form of madness than a calm choice. 

Also the case with many Shakespearean comedies, the plot device of mistaken identity is used here once more, this time with a bit more of a socially relevant message than had been intended by the Bard.

The chaos caused by separated identical twins highlights how people (perhaps still today more than ever) understand little about the world around them. 

In terms of the Shakespearean content, in "TWELFTH NIGHT," Viola's disguise as a male page named “Cesario” turns social rules upside down, proving that gender and identity can result in creatively versatile performances. 

While disguised as named “Cesario,” Viola falls in love with Duke Orsino (Joshua Raymond) of Illyria who, in turn, is in love with Countess Olivia (Lillian Kelly), a wealthy countess. 

However, upon meeting the disguised Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her, thinking she is a man. 

Meanwhile, Sebastian, also surviving the shipwreck, arrives in Illyria later, causing an uproar among the locals when they mistake him for Cesario. 

(Photo: Christopher Lichtenberg as “Feste” in a scene from  William Shakespeare's "TWELFTH NIGHT" now playing at Infinity Performing Arts in Hopedale, MA. through August 16, 2026. Photo Courtesy Infinity Performing Arts)

Throughout the story, both Curran and Terreden provide excellent performances as the isolated siblings. 

Viola mourns Sebastian who she believes has drowned. 

Also well portrayed by Raymond and Kelly are the Duke and Olivia, who together come across as the play’s most shallow of characters. 

As Orsino plays up the concept of being in love, Olivia leans into her grief, suggesting the duo is acting out the illusion of these emotions to others rather than genuinely feeling them. 

While Viola is disguised as Cesario, what is presented is real affection, which eventually seeps through these illusions and brings honest, grounded feelings. 

The official fool of "TWELFTH NIGHT" is Olivia's servant, Feste (Christopher Lichtenberg), a jester, who often speaks the deepest truths, while the serious characters act like fools.   

Lichtenberg has a fine grasp of the Shakespearean content and is enjoyable to watch in every scene in which Feste appears. 

Along comes Malvolio (Yaitza Rodriguez), a lead servant in Olivia's household, who serves the play as a “Debbie Downer” killjoy and moral foil to the play's festive atmosphere. 

The character of Malvolio drives a major comic subplot of "TWELFTH NIGHT" via critical vanity and covert objectives, allowing Shakespeare to lampoon pretense. 

In a noteworthy performance by Rodriguez, we observe how pompous Malvolio travels the shadowy side of derision, contrasting social stringency with jubilant gaiety. 

In the above subplot, several characters conspire to make Malvolio believe that she has fallen for Olivia. 

Other characters we meet during this include: 

Maria (Savanna White-Jagelski) and Fabian (Maria DiMatteo) Olivia's scheming servants; Olivia’s rowdy uncle, Sir Toby Belch (Mark Prokes) who helps Maria prank Malvolio; the silly squire Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Michael Lifshits), a gullible would-be suitor; Valentine (Kyle Bunker) and Curio (Maria DiMatteo) gentlemen attending the Duke; and two Sea Captains - Antonio (Mak Khan), friend to Sebastian, and (Kyle Bunker), friend to Viola. 

"TWELFTH NIGHT" is widely considered to be one of William Shakespeare's finest and most successful comedies. 

Thanks to ongoing subterfuge and mistaken identities, there are a lot of twists and turns. 

The story also features characters with a penchant for practical jokes, such as when Sir Toby and Fabian convince Sir Andrew to challenge “Cesario” to a duel, knowing neither can fight. 

(Photo:  Lillian Kelly as “Olivia” with Saoirse Curran as “Viola/Cesario” in a scene from  William Shakespeare's "TWELFTH NIGHT" now playing at Infinity Performing Arts in Hopedale, MA. through August 16, 2026. Photo Courtesy Infinity Performing Arts)

Ultimately, this is a bare bones production that utilizes minimal sets, costumes and props. 

This forces much of the story of "TWELFTH NIGHT" to be conveyed solely on the strength of the performers, some of whom have more experience with the Bard text than others. 

If performed outside, that becomes even more of a challenge as actors must contend with passing cars, sirens, barking dogs and other unexpected distractions.

However, the Infinity Performing Arts cast pulls together to make "TWELFTH NIGHT" an enjoyable experience, with the audience fully embracing the silliness and absurdity.

"Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun - it shines everywhere," but "TWELFTH NIGHT" only continues in Hopedale until August 16th, 2026 - so try and catch this foolery before the sun sets.

For tickets and more information, email hello@infinityperforming.com

BUY TICKETS

Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

William Shakespeare's "TWELFTH NIGHT" is a fast-paced romantic comedy with several interwoven plots of romance, mistaken identities, and practical jokes. 

Separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Cesario, and becomes a servant to the Duke Orsino. 

He sends her to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf, but the Countess falls in love with Cesario. 

Meanwhile, Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, gets drunk with his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and they play a trick on Malvolio, Olivia’s steward. 

Eventually, Sebastian turns up and causes even more confusion, chaos, and comedy.

ABOUT INFINITY PERFORMING ARTS (IPA)

INFINITY PERFORMING ARTS (IPA) engages, inspires, entertains and challenges audiences with theatrical productions that range from classics to new works. IPA trains and supports the next generation of theatre artists through its core company values.

Mailing Address:

INFINITY PERFORMING ARTS

c/o Hopedale Unitarian Parish 

65 Hopedale Street 

Hopedale, MA 01747

hello@infinityperforming.com