Parody has a lot of mistaken identity

Think of Shakespeare parading around in modern dress but speaking his own poetic language.

Students at Lake Park High School in Roselle plan to do just that.

Using modern surroundings but Shakespeare's tongue, the school's theater department will present a parody of "Twelfth Night" as its fall play.

It will take place at 7:30 p.m. today, 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Lake Park East Campus, 600 S. Medinah Road, Roselle.

"I chose the play because it's a funny situation," said Kathy Weber, Lake Park teacher and the play's director.

The show is very similar to the movie "She's the Man," starring Amanda Bynes.

For those not familiar with either "Twelfth Night" or the movie, both are about a young woman who dresses as a man and falls in love -- with a man who does not know she's a woman.

But the show also will shadow the popular teen movie "High School Musical," a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet but with a happy ending.

"It's a comic tip of the hat to people who have seen 'High School Musical,' " Weber said.

The leading character in the play, Viola, is a shipwreck survivor who poses as her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she believes dead. Masquerading as a young man, Viola enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is in love with Lady Olivia. Eventually, Olivia falls in love with Viola in disguise and Viola falls for the count.

If you go

What: "Twelfth Night"

When: 7:30 p.m. today, 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Lake Park East Campus, 600 S. Medinah Road, Roselle

Cost: $5 for adults, free for Lake Park students and senior citizens, $3 for other students

Details: (630) 295-5313.

Cast

• Viola: sophomore Mary Nano of Bloomingdale

• Duke Orsino: junior Jon Winarski of Roselle

• Olivia: sophomore Chrissy Reninger of Roselle

• Sebastian: sophomore Adam Glab of Bloomingdale

• Others: Paul Gray of Itasca, Aria DeBenny of Bloomingdale, Drew Scola of Roselle, Dalen Touza of Bloomingdale, Jeff Barak of Roselle