Review: 'Twelfth Night'
Love Ð and fun Ð is in the air at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival
Two words not often associated with each other these days are "Shakespeare" and "fun."
That's because some directors treat The Bard's comedies with such reverence that you'd swear you're attending a coronation rather than a gut-buster. Others take the opposite approach and mount an "updated" production that's so far out in left field that there's little left of the original source material that's recognizable.
But like a certain fairy tale that features a golden-haired cutie and her three bear buddies says, Director John Seibert's production of "Twelfth Night" is just right!
The slickly staged and very funny comedy opened last weekend at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival in Jackson, and if the large group of middle school students sitting in front of me is any indication, the above-mentioned disassociated words are once again united! (The kids were riveted to their seats from start to finish!)
Shakespeare-lovers often state that "Twelfth Night" is one of their favorite works, and it's easy to see why: It tackles one of The Bard's favorite topics Ð would-be lovers who must overcome obstacles before they can be united Ð and it's another of his gender-bending works that relies on mistaken identities and improbable coincidences to drive the plot. Plus, it's just plain funny!
It's also tough to summarize in a few hundred words or less, but here goes: Love is in the air in Illyria, it seems. Countess Olivia (played with wicked delight by Lisa Betz) is courted by Duke Orsino (Tom Russell), but she's not in the mood; she's still mourning the deaths of her father and brother Ð and he's really not her type. Besides, she has two other suitors Ð neither of whom interests her, either: her persnickety steward Malvolio (a foppishly fun Loren Bass) and the most worthless knight ever, Sir Andrew (the always fine Neil Necastro). Meanwhile, Lady Viola (a very cute Rachel Roberts) is shipwrecked in a strange land, and fearing her twin brother is lost at sea, disguises herself as a man Ð Cesario. She finds work as Orsino's page, but while delivering her boss's love notes, guess who gets the hots for young Cesario? Why, none other than Olivia, of course! But don't feel too bad for the Duke: There's a woman close by who's secretly pining for him. The problem is: She's dressed as a man!
The plot thickens when Maria, Olivia's gentlewoman (the sultry Janet Haley), is chastised by Malvolio for going out carousing with Sir Andrew and Olivia's live-in relative, the aptly named Sir Toby Belch (scene-stealing Ed. Simone). So the trio Ð along with Olivia's clown, Feste (Nick DePinto) Ð conspire to get even with him. To complicate matters, Viola's twin, Sebastian (the cute, understated Jacob Hodgson), appears with his rescuer, a man not particularly welcome in Illyria (Mark Trotter).
Everything eventually comes together, of course Ð and all secrets are revealed. However, not everyone ends up with the love of their dreams!
Once the show begins, it takes only a moment to realize director Seibert understands Shakespeare Ð and because of that, so, too, do his talented actors. Not only is it apparent that they comprehend the words they are speaking, but the concepts behind them, as well.
However, it's his attention to detail Ð the little things Ð that truly makes this production entertaining!
From creative set changes to the imaginative use of the incredible facility Ð and from the show's intuitive pace to its inventive staging Ð Seibert never lets your attention wander.
His show appears slick even when things go somewhat askew Ð such as when shoes come off, thunder roars and mustaches droop.
Nitpickers, however, might wish the script's more serious moments were given more emphasis. And why wasn't DePinto's clown more buffoonish? (DePinto, though, did make a young girl in the front row swoon Ð something she won't soon forget!)
"Twelfth Night" Staged Thursday through Sunday in repertory by the Michigan Shakespeare Festival at Potter Center on the campus of Jackson Community College in Jackson through Aug. 6. $20-$22. 517-796-8600. http://www.michshakefest.org.
The Bottom Line: It's well-worth the drive to Jackson for this summer's slick and very funny production of "Twelfth Night"!
