Shakespeare comes to Osky with a tropical twist

Aug. 8—OSKALOOSA — To enjoy Oska Lucid's tropical take on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or not to enjoy it? There really isn't much of a question there, because the fizzy, summer-spirited twist on the Shakespearean favorite was just too much fun not to enjoy.

The Oska Lucid theater company's production of Twelfth Night, performed Aug. 5-6, was directed by Maddie Hamilton, who says that it was the freedom and lightheartedness of the play that drew cast members to the project.

"We wanted to not only make this a fun experience for all to enjoy, but also have fun with this freedom that Shakespeare productions provide," Hamilton told The Herald.

"There's a lot of freedom and important messages, but it also isn't a dramatic piece at all," said Hamilton. "It adds this lighthearted playfulness. We wanted to make it more tropical themed for it to be more digestible and fun for the audience in this community, especially as I believe not only is it the first show in the Woodhaven Amphitheater, but also probably one of the first full length Shakespeare productions that has seen Oskaloosa in a while," Hamilton said.

As Hamilton pointed out, Oska Lucid's production marks the reopening of the newly renovated Woodhaven Amphitheater in University Park. Hamilton and the employees at George Daily Community Theater hope that the amphitheater will continue to be used as an outdoor venue for Oskaloosa's future theater endeavors.

"Bringing life to this venue in general is amazing," Hamilton said. "I remember coming here in high school, and it would just be an abandoned place...Now, you know, a lot of people have heard of Shakespeare in the Park, and we almost have our own little Shakespeare in the Park, and so no one has to go to Central Park in New York to experience something like this."

The Oska Lucid Theater Company defines itself as a group that works to bring big dreams like Shakespeare in the Park home to Oskaloosa, Iowa: "Oska Lucid's founding members are George Daily Youth Theatre alums who 'want to show that anything you dream, you can do. We are young adults who have set out to achieve our dreams in many different walks of life. Lots of us are in or just graduated college. We have come together to make something beautiful, create epic art, tell time-old tales, and set an example that if you dream it, you can do it!'"

The Oskaloosa Theater scene looks forward to many more productions to come at Woodhaven Amphitheater.

Channing Rucks can be reached at crucks@oskyherald.com.