Taylor Storlien-

This week, the Gustavus Theatre Department is putting on a production of Shakespere’s Cymbeline, directed by Professor Matt Trucano. It will be performed in Anderson Theatre on Feb. 15th, 16th, and 17th at 8:00 p.m., and February 18th at 2:00 p.m.

Cymbeline, written by William Shakespeare, centers around Imogen, the daughter of the King of Britain, named Cymbeline. Imogen is the center of two love triangles; involving a husband’s wager, a betrothal to her stepbrother, and a forbidden marriage. Like many Shakespearean plays, it follows along a path of twists and turns.

Due to Cymbeline’s history and rich language, auditions focused on the conveyance of emotion. Close attention was paid during the audition process.

“We all warmed up and then worked on learning a scene, but then performing it without scripts in order to make us focus on the important plot points and emotion rather than just the words,” First-year and cast member Timothy Snyder said.

Sophomore Julia Nelson also expressed the difficulty they had with the language in the play: “Shakespearean language can be difficult to memorize due to its lyrical nature, unlike how we speak today. I had a challenging time with the wording and grammar that was used. Even though I understood the meaning of what my character said, I found it difficult to get every word right all the time. Thankfully, I was allowed to make these mistakes!” Director Trucano’s process involved paraphrasing, endurance training, and giving the cast “… the freedom to explore the world of our show in our own ways,” Nelson said.

Rehearsals started in January, where the cast would work from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mornings were spent on performance training, while the rehearsal of the show took place in the afternoon and evening times. Assistant Director of the show, Senior Emily Gianotta, recounts how enriching this experience was for her right from the start during auditions.

“There was something so special that clicked from the minute everyone was together and it was amazing to witness. The connections that were made [during] auditions and the choices we made in casting have really come to fruition in such a gorgeous way, [that] I really hoped for from the beginning!” Gianotta said. “We’ve said before that because we respect and care for each other so honestly and deeply, our characters are better able to love, despise, and interact with one another,” Senior cast member Becky LaCanne said.

Cast rehearsal began in January, but other show aspects have been in the works longer. The costumes were designed then built and worked on under the supervision of Costume, Hair, and Makeup Designer, Professor Larissa McConnell. She considers multiple factors when beginning her work: “As per any production, I needed to consider the number of actors, the number of characters, and most importantly, the overall aesthetic of the world that the director was creating. This world, in collaboration with the set designer, lighting, and sound designer brings the audience into the space of the characters and storyline,” McConnell said.

Together, the cast came up with what they thought were the show’s central themes. They decided on trust, forgiveness, family, and the question of God’s existence. During J-term, the cast had the opportunity to perform at Patrick’s on Third here in St. Peter. For Sophomore Caroline Butler, performing for an audience gathers a variety of takeaways that enhance her future performances: “Every time I perform for an audience, I take their reactions so seriously for future performances. What made them laugh, did they understand that scene, how correct were my predictions for their reactions, etc. I take that information and use it,” Butler said.

Along with creating a relationship with the audience, Gianotta emphasized the importance of the relationships between cast and crew. “This show is all about relationships, how we interact with each other and the world around us,” Gianotta said.

The plot of Cymbeline involves time jumps, a small cast size, and utilizes the common practice of having some actors play two roles in Shakespeare’s plays. Due to these details, costuming became more intricately planned. “…the major challenge is the number of quick changes that happen. My wardrobe head, Myra Nelson, is running a tight ship with the other seven wardrobe crew members making sure that each performer is changed into the next look in the short amount of time they have,” McConnell said.

The cast and crew have both paid close attention to the smallest details to ensure the success of the show. “The long days, especially right near the end of the process are challenging, but we make it through by supporting each other and taking care of ourselves as best we can,” said Snyder.

Make sure to stop by and see a performance of Cymbeline to support your fellow Gusties!