Theater company goes from ‘Beach’ to the Bard

Kimberley McGee

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 9:20 a.m.

It's a season of firsts for the Nevada Theatre Company.

The NTC presents William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night, or What You Will" tonight, through June 17.

This is the first Shakespeare play for the 4-year-old company in its first permanent space.

The classic play follows the theater troupe's sold-out performances of "Psycho Beach Party," a surf parody that ran from October through February.

The switch from the beach to the Bard was a personal decision for NTC artistic director Deanna Duplechain, who said she thought the troupe was ready for a serious challenge.

"I thought it was time," she said. "We are ready as a company to do this."

As a young girl, Duplechain would sit in her room and read the plays of Shakespeare, whose mastery of language and detailed portrayal of the human condition impressed her.

"I was in awe that people had the same feelings about (love) and their lives 300 years ago," she said. "He wrote about that so beautifully."

And with humor.

Duplechain chose "Twelfth Night" for its fast-paced and witty dialogue as well as the fact that it is an ensemble piece.

"It's perfect for us because not just one person has to carry the play," she said. "The whole cast is involved. It's really something we can all have a good time with."

"Twelfth Night" follows the story of Duke Orsino, who is in love with Olivia. Orsino, played by Kevin Carey, proclaims his affection for her through his messenger, Cesario, played by Jennie Barnson.

Olivia, played by Heather Burdett, falls for Cesario, who is actually a woman in disguise. Mistaken identity abounds, and lovers leap from one conclusion to another in the two-hour play.

The NTC will present the play in its new 80-seat theater, which opened last October. The theater is tucked alongside a mini-mart in a shopping plaza at the Lakes.

Inside the glass double doors the black walls, plywood floors and tall ceilings -- from which hang 19 professional-theater lights -- combine to create a cozy community theater.

The theater took three months to complete, and was a difficult labor of love for Duplechain.

"It was the hardest thing I've ever done," she said. "But I love these kind of spaces because it feels so intimate."

For "Twelfth Night," Duplechain sandwiched the audience seating between the two main stages where the action takes place. The Duke's lush quarters are arranged at one end of the 50-foot-long room, while Olivia's room is positioned just inside the entrance to the theater.

"I wanted to do something different with this space," Duplechain said. "I wanted to see what this felt like for the audience."

Many local theater troupes choose to present Shakespeare's plays as part of their seasons. Duplechain, however, said the NTC distinguishes itself by its unusual approach to theater.

"There's room in this town to do more Shakespeare," Duplechain said. "But we try to do something a bit more left-of-center."