It looks like noon, but in Victoria Park it's really night-time, Twelfth Night, that is.

A13

Margaret Patricia Eaton

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Toronto does it, so does Halifax, Charlottetown and nearby Sackville. And now Moncton's own Hubcity Theatre Company is getting in on the act with an outdoor Shakespearean production at the Victoria Park Ampitheatre on July 3, 4 and 5 at 12 noon.

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Feste (Jeff Mullin) sweeps Maria (Wanda Jones) off her feet.

"Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's best loved comedies," says Jeff Mullin, one of Hubcity Theatre's three co-founders. "It's a play of love, self-discovery, and practical jokes. Twins are separated by a violent storm and each believes the other to be dead. Viola (Teaghan O'Driscoll) disguises herself as a boy and works for the Duke (Brad Butland). While wooing Olivia (Megan Morehouse) on behalf of the Duke, Viola discovers she's in love with him, but he of course thinks she's a boy and thus is born one of Shakespeare's famous love triangles. Meanwhile, where's her twin, Sebastien (Pat Sebastien)? Throw in a mixture of merriment, vengeful jokes and swordplay in a sub-plot and we find ourselves lost in a world of midsummer madness or what you will."

Hubcity Theatre Company was co-founded in 2007 by three grads of ABU. Mullin, Brad Butland and Robin Oxley had all been drama students of Scott Mealey, who plays Sir Toby in this production, and upon graduation, were determined to keep doing what they really enjoyed. Forming a professional theatre company in Moncton has not been without challenges. All of the actors have day jobs to make ends meet, which means they have to plan rehearsals around work schedules. With a cast of 20, this can get complicated. Still they're "having a lot of fun", says Mullin, who takes on the role of Feste, the Clown, singing and playing a three-string "strum-stick", forerunner of the guitar.

It may look like a lot of fun, but the company is serious about theatre. It is now registered as a business and is applying for grants.

Their first performance was Measure for Measure, at Victoria Park in 2007 and they hope to build this into an annual event. "Shakespeare connects with our deepest passions and needs. It's fitting that on the open streets and in the public parks, we bring loveable characters and archetypal stories to the people. I hope the love of Shakespeare and theatre in general will spread as a result of our work," says director Oxley

"Our central location in Victoria Park makes it accessible to everyone," adds Mullin.

In addition to the two Shakespeare in the Park productions, Hubcity Theatre has produced two other plays, both at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre. Rosencranz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Gaslight were enjoyed by audiences in 2008.

As a community-sponsored event, admission for Twelfth Night is free. In the event of bad weather, the performance will be cancelled, as there is no rain location available. In the meantime, after a week of rainy rehearsals, the cast and crew are trying to stay dry and positive.

The Hubcity Theatre Company presents Twelfth Night at Victoria Park Ampitheatre, July 3, 4, 5 at 12 noon. Admission is free. The production is two hours in length, with one intermission.