By Alayna Een and Eliza Een
You’ll have a rare, good time watching Cymbeline with the Grassroots Shakespeare Company this summer! The Grassroots Shakespeare Company (GSC) is a collaborative production group that consistently provides entertaining, educational, and authentic Shakespeare performances in a variety of venues. This summer, the troupe—in true Elizabethan style—traipsed across Utah, bringing Cymbeline and other plays to city parks. While the GSC summer tour is over, Cymbeline, one of Shakespeare’s more obscure plays, will return as part of the exciting Triple Header in the Castle Amphitheater, Provo, Utah, in July.
Since Cymbeline is a lesser-known play, it may help to cover the plot: Cymbeline focuses on certain inhabitants of Britain under King Cymbeline. The king’s two sons were tragically stolen away as babies, leaving only his daughter, Imogen. While Cymbeline’s cunning new queen and her son Cloten hatch several devilish plots to murder or marry their way the throne, Imogen secretly marries Posthumus Leonatus. The king disapproves of the match and so Posthumus is exiled from Britain to Italy. While there, Posthumus meets the cynical Iachimo, who bets that Imogen will not remain faithful and travels to Britain to connive to win the bet, stealing from Imogen a bracelet given to her by Posthumus. Posthumus believes that she has been untrue and orders his servant, Pisanio, to murder her. But Pisanio, believing in Imogen’s innocence, convinces her to hide and dress up as a man until it is safe. Unknowingly, Imogen takes with her a poison planted by her stepmother. Imogen becomes lost in the woods and meets Belarius, a nobleman banished by her father many years ago, and his two sons, who are secretly the kidnapped princes. They welcome Imogen and fight off Cloten, who had pursued her dressed in Posthumus’ clothes. Imogen drinks the poison, believing it to be medicine, while Cloten is killed by the elder son. Believing that Imogen is dead, the three men leave her body with Cloten’s. When she awakes, she believes that Cloten’s body is Posthumus’s, and she despairs. Meanwhile, an army of Roman invaders has come to collect Britain’s tribute, and the disguised Imogen joins them as a page. Posthumus regrets his actions, believing that he has succeeded in killing Imogen, and joins the battle, fighting for Britain valiantly without care for his life. At the end of the battle, Posthumus allows himself to be taken prisoner and the god Jupiter blesses his fortune. In the final scenes, villainy is revealed, Posthumus and Imogen are reunited, the lost princes are recovered, and Britain’s relationship with Rome is repaired.
The Grassroots Shakespeare Company does blind casting for all their shows, assigning roles without regard to gender or portrayals, which is especially apt during Pride Month. The actors lean into the comedy of their roles with individually and creatively sourced costumes, minimal props, and top-tier performing. The doting Imogen (Miranda Maurin) dons a Mean Girls-esque outfit, but her kind and strong portrayal of her character is anything but bad. Her quirky character is smart and dedicated, but not quick on the uptake, which creates comedy that connects the audience to the protagonist. Posthumus (Alex Vaughn) is impressive as in all aspects of the role: love-sick newlywed, sorrowing widower, and strong soldier. Their tragic character and wistful portrayal create an easy empathy with the audience and adds weight to their lows and joy to their final happiness. King Cymbeline (Courtney) is very regal and had a contained air of tragedy that adds sympathy to the character. They act well with other people on stage, and the coolness and distance throughout the show makes the familial warmth at the conclusion all the more touching. Daisy Sherman (Pisanio/First Gentleman) plays the die-hard companion and royal servant that every Shakespeare lead needs. Her well-timed and well-meaning rebellion saves the show, but not before adding a bit of intrigue. Her range in playing the giddy bearer of love letters, the frightened friend, and the conflicted contract-killer is phenomenal.
I’ve never found it so easy and rewarding to hate someone as I did with Steven Pond (Iachimo and other bad guys). His take on the jester-villain is entertaining, and his expressions and stage presence stole every scene and clearly connected the plot points of this potentially confusing play. Alyssa Tanner Vaughn (Cloten and Doctor Cornelius) energetically portrays the angsty, volatile Cloten as he throws his insignificant weight around in endless and empty bravado. She is creepy but well-meaning as the Doctor Cornelius and leads to some of the key plot twists of the play. Soren Budge (Belarius) plays a misguided man in a very apt boy scout theme that contributes to the wilderness vibe. Though you can’t quite condone his decisions, his obvious care for the boys and his inner conflict endear him to the audience and eventually to the king. Statuesque and commanding, Kira Halterman (Caius Lucius) represents the Romans with a firm and gracious hand, making it hard for the audience to choose a side. Her purple velvet adds to her regality, but her command is all her own. The carefully intoned puns and slights against Cloten she makes as her secondary character are none the less well done. Drake Hansen (Arviragus/Queen/Jupiter) is every bit the sassy and sinful stepmother: casually ordering poisons, plotting against the king, and promoting her son—all while wearing killer club attire. Drake’s bond with Guiderius (actor uncredited) was clear and delightful, though he apparently missed out on both the brains and the brawn in the brotherhood. His commitment to comedy bits and his cameo as Jupiter are highlights of the show and will fly on the eagle’s wings of my memory.
No performance of the GSC would be complete without the live musicians and sound effect technicians that add to the comedy and drama of the cast’s performances. The GSC is a summer staple here in Utah, and our theater scene is all the better for it. We brought some friends and went to see our first GSC performance in 2017 to eek out a bit of extra credit for a Shakespeare class. And now, several years later, we ran into one of those friends serendipitously at the Scera Park, Orem, showing of Cymbeline. We’re big fans of GSC, and once you’ve seen them perform, you will be, too. Cymbeline will be performed again alongside a four-person Romeo and Juliet and a reprise of The Merry Wives of Windsor as part of the GSC Triple Header at the Castle Amphitheater in Provo, UT, on July 8–9, 2022. So bring your best groundling gusto and get ready for some fun and colorful Shakespeare.
The Grassroots Shakespeare Company Presents Cymbeline by William Shakespeare.
July 8–9, 2022 at 7 PM (preshow), 7:30 PM (Cymbeline), 9 PM (Romeo and Juliet), and 10 PM (The Merry Wives of Windsor).
The Castle Amphitheater, 1300 E Center Street, Provo, UT.
Tickets $15 (Pay at the door, cash or Venmo)
Grassroots Shakespeare Company website
Grassroots Shakespeare Company Facebook Page
Triple Header Facebook Event
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