Asheville – We all know the lyrics from the song made famous by Whitney Houston: “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” In the world of Asheville Theater, the future is in capable, creative, socially, and politically conscious hands.
The Montford Moppets, a youth troupe founded by current Moppets Artistic Director Ashleigh Goff in 2013, have been pushing the boundaries of Shakespeare since the beginning. Not only by encouraging input from the cast and crew, but also by allowing members of the group to adapt the work in unexpected ways.
2023’s A Christmas Carol, written largely by Moppet Eli Hamilton, was a pitch black comedy filled with social commentary about our country’s broken healthcare system and systemic issues with law enforcement.
Also in 2023, The Moppets took on Julius Caesar, setting it in a high school and replacing sword-fighting scenes with things like Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Thumb Wars.
Their production of the classic Shakespearean holiday tale 12th Night is absolutely another ingenious and wonderfully funny spin on a well-known story.
Rather than beginning with a shipwreck, our teenagers (who play teenagers) are stuck in a ski chalet after a bus crash. And from there, who knows what is in store for the audience? Actually, I know some of it because I was invited to a rehearsal. This group of young thespians is so adept that even in the earlier part of the process, with actors calling for lines, I was laughing uncontrollably.
It was also quite interesting to watch them delve into their characters and the plot. This is not a school play, like we’ve all seen portrayed on television and in movies. You know, the kind where it is just kids memorizing lines and blocking, and the audience is bored unless their child is onstage at the time.
No. The Moppets always bring a high level of theatrical excellence to every performance. Director Melon Wedick also teaches classes that help actors thoroughly understand Shakespeare. As I have seen time and again with her former students, her instruction in turn makes it possible for the audience to thoroughly understand Shakespeare as well.
So don your holiday best and grab your ticket to The Montford Moppets latest over-the-top adventure! Their productions typically sell out, so make your plans as soon as possible.
The children are most definitely our future, and the future is blindingly bright.
12th Night is at Attic Salt Theatre, Friday, December 15th, through Sunday, the 17th. All performances are at 7:30 p.m.