Arts & Entertainment
Arena Players star in "Twelfth Night" at Sands Point Preserve
Shakespeare's amusing comedy looks at gender identity, love and revelry.
Gender identity got people talking even in the times of William Shakespeare, long before the news cycles ever caught up with Caitlyn Jenner.
At a time when Jenner continues to make headlines, “Twelfth Night,” written in about 1600 employed a comedic treatment of gender identify to the Elizabethans.
See it come to life when the Arena Players take the stage at Sands Point Preserve on Aug. 1 in Castle Gould’s Great Hall.
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“Twlefth Night” tells the story of a love triangle, mistaken identity and the Elizabethan festival noted for its revelry and song. The comedy features Viola and Sebastian, twins who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola, discovering that Sebastian is alive, winds up in Illyria, which is ruled by Duke Orsino. Viola, disguised as a man, winds up falling in love with the Duke, though he is smitten with Lady Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivia comes across Viola, and falls in love, believing that Viola is a man.
The play is part of this summer’s music series at Sands Point Preserve. The series continues on Aug. 15, when the North Shore Music Festival returns with Giacomo Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and “Il Tabarro” as a double bill. And Aug. 8 marks the return of Broadway Showstoppers II,” a revue produced by Joanne Fried and Helene Tiger that salutes the most popular hits from the Great White Way.
Find out what's happening in Oyster Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Each all-inclusive evening features an 8 p.m. performance, wine, soft drinks, dessert and coffee. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $50.
Friends of the Sands Point Preserve is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions and to provide a range of cultural arts events and educational programs for families and schools in the Phil Dejana Learning Center and Outdoor Classroom.
For information about the Sands Point Preserve and to purchase a 2015 Annual Pass call 516-571-7901 or visit the Gate House at 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY 11050, open daily in summer from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.