“If music be the food of love, play on,” and so they did. For the Spring 2026 musical, the Pierrette Players took on the musical adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play Twelfth Night. The musical follows the same plot: A woman, Viola (played by Caroline Smith), washes up on shore, separated from her identical twin brother. To get a job, she dresses as a man and helps Duke Orsino (played by Lera Foust) woo the most beautiful woman in town, Olivia (played by K’leia Parker). However, Oliva falls in love with Viola, while Viola falls in love with Orsino. Eventually, Viola’s twin, Sebastian (played by Alex Angelini), reappears and falls in love with Olivia, who mistakes him for the man Viola dresses up as. The play ends with Sebastian and Viola reuniting, Viola revealing her true identity, and various marriages. In between all of this, Olivia’s entourage conspires to fire the strict head servant, Malvolio (played by Lydia Shumaker).
The backdrop to the production was a beautiful set, complete with a terrace and an idyllic water fountain in the background, thanks to the set crew. The costuming is also quite eye-catching, specifically the gorgeous blue gown Olivia wears, Duke Orsino’s royal purple jacket, and Malvolio’s stunningly yellow tights. Costume designer Lilli Stafford said that the costume team worked hard to give all the characters a little quirk in their costumes to help bring the characters to life because “that [costumes] is what immerses you in the world.”
Once the performance started, what truly stood out was the ensemble performance. The group numbers were vibrant with dancing, beautiful harmonies, and were occasionally joined by a dazzling three-person band. Whether the performers were toughening up for a boxing match or cheering on a wedding, they were a joy to watch. A favorite scene from the night was a lament from Malvolio that he performs, locked in a bathroom stall. While he sings, “Greatness,” he solemnly taps his feet to the music while calling out, “I’m just reaching for the stars where I belong. Is that so wrong?” The performance makes the audience want to cry out, “You are not wrong, Malvolio!” Another striking song was “Is This Not Love?” which the clown Feste (played by Molly Togni) performs for Duke Orsino and Viola, as the two characters start to realize there might be more to their relationship. The raw vocal performance and slow awkwardness make it a compelling scene. After the performance, Lera Foust said that while it was difficult for everyone to learn the Middle English, it was a great experience to then be able to add personality to the lines, specifying, “It is so cool to see these characters come to life from the script.”
This performance is just one of many incredible productions that the Pierrette Players put on every school year. Do not forget about them over the summer and come back to Salem in the fall, ready to see more theatre.
