TURNERS FALLS — Audiences will be treated to an entirely new perspective of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” when students in Four Rivers Charter Public School’s Drama Club take the stage Friday and throughout the weekend.

Adapted by Drama Club Director Leah Plath and by Ella Dubin as part of her senior capstone project, this version of “Twelfth Night” takes the play’s original setting of Illyria and brings it to the late 1960s, in turn making the royal characters into the superstars of the period’s music revolution, all while using Shakespeare’s original language.

“Twelfth Night” will premiere Friday at the Shea Theater Arts Center, 71 Avenue A in Turners Falls, at 7 p.m. On Saturday, a matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m., followed by the final performance at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door and $12 if purchased online at bit.ly/FRDrama23. Children under 5 are admitted for free.

In adapting the 17th-century romantic comedy to the 1960s, Plath and Dubin, who are serving as co-directors, said their goal was to retain the spirit of the gender-bending play while also delivering a unique performance.

“We wanted to maintain the various romances and jeep the spirit of the practical jokes,” Plath said, adding that the original language can be difficult, but effectively conveys the show’s plot. “The original language requires attention, but it is understandable — there will be scene summaries in the program.”

The play focuses on the shipwrecked twins Viola and Sebastian, who each believe the other died in the wreck, and follows their separate adventures around Illyria. Viola disguises herself as Cesario, a page for Duke Orsino, and an entangling web of romances is then spun among the cast of characters.

Dubin said her family’s years of experience in theater — “I like to joke that I grew up backstage” — and her desire to “play on queer themes of the show” is what drove her to choose a “Twelfth Night” adaptation as her senior capstone project. She thanked her “wonderful” classmates and cast for coming together to put on the show.

“My main takeaway is how much theater can bring people together … and create this big, beautiful thing,” Dubin said.

Senior Rue Savoie, who is taking on the role of Sebastian, said there is “a lot of really cool energy” behind the production and the Drama Club’s return to the Shea Theater is letting the students do some “really awesome stuff.”

And, taking on the role of Sebastian is a chance to have a good time on stage.

“He’s really fun,” Savoie said. “Who doesn’t want to be a man that everyone is in love with?”

Ivy Newcombe, a sophomore who is taking on the dual role of Viola and Cesario, said the characters have two distinct presences on stage and juggling those two is a fun challenge.

“They are very different people, but they share the best qualities,” Newcombe said.

For the show as a whole, Newcombe said the shift to a 1960s setting allows them to add the “energetic aspect” of music and audience members can expect to “be thoroughly entertained.”

“It’s very Four Rivers of us to put this spin on it,” Newcombe said. “This show will give a good glimpse of what the Drama Club is doing.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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