Twelfth Night

A visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see some Shakespeare – not at the RST but at the rather cosier surrounds of the Bear Pit Theatre, as Second Thoughts presented their version of the bard’s classic comedy, Twelfth Night.  I’m told that the run-up to the show was disrupted by a breakout of Covid amongst the cast, but I would never have known, as the players gave this wonderful play their all.

Twelfth Night tells a tale of romantic complications, as the shipwrecked Viola finds herself falling for the lovelorn Orsino, even as she herself, disguised as the male Cesario, is pursued by Orsino’s beloved, Olivia.  Meanwhile, drunken rapscallion Sir Toby Belch leads a motley crew in gulling the stuck-up manservant Malvolio.  Complications ensue when Viola’s brother Sebastian turns up, leading to arrests, duels, revelations and, finally, happy endings (for most – we are left with Malvolio’s threat of revenge ringing in our ears). 

Director Amanda Laidler set the show in the swinging sixties, seeking parallels between the bright colours and freedoms of that era with the off-kilter charms of Illyria.  This was most clearly shown by some of the costume choices, particularly for Christa Gaskell’s perky maidservant Maria, who showed off the fashions of the time.  Perhaps there was a slight missed opportunity to introduce some of the great music of that era too, particularly in Feste’s songs, which were well sung but very Elizabethan in style.  Feste (Chloe Jane Wiltshire) also acted as a kind of chorus at the beginning of the play, stepping out of character (and Shakespeare’s script) to introduce and comment on some of the characters.  This was an unusual approach, although it wasn’t continued beyond the opening.

Georgina Monk and Michael Thompsett were a good match as Viola and Orsino, whose relationship developed quite naturally as the play progressed.  Steph Jepson injected some great energy as Olivia, bringing out a lot of humour in what was otherwise a fairly serious approach to the play.  As her manservant Malvolio, Tim Raistrick was suitably strait-laced and snobby, until making a fool of himself to humorous effect – I was particularly amused by his attempts at smiling!

Noel Dollimore gave rabble-rouser Sir Toby Belch a cantankerous edge, whilst Ian McLean made a rare appearance on stage as the foolish Sir Andrew Aguecheek (sans flaxen hair). I thought his delivery of ‘I was loved once’ effectively brought out an underlying melancholy in the character, earning an ‘ahh’ from the audience.  Second Thoughts regular Gill Hines had fun with the role of Fabian (here restyled as Fabia), whilst Edythe Wurltzler and Nic Walsh added to the mayhem as the rather confused Sebastian and Antonio.  The cast was completed by Paige Hopper (Valentina), Samantha Nicholas (Curia), Bernard Hall (Sea Captain) and, in her debut performance with Second Thoughts, Holly Gorne (Officer). 

The show was simply but effectively staged, with an open set that was transformed to the locations of the play via the introduction of scenery and furniture.  There was an impressive hedge for the scene where Sir Toby and chums trick Malvolio with a forged letter, although I missed some of their interjections as they didn’t always pop up from behind it!  The sound and lighting elements were well delivered to enhance to the storytelling and atmosphere of the play, and the backstage team worked effectively to keep things moving smoothly. 

Well done to Second Thoughts for taking on Shakespeare – and in Stratford too!  The performance at the Bear Pit were followed with an open air show in the Great Garden at New Place – a prestigious venue for the group to complete their run of this evergreen comedy.  I look forward to seeing you all again in October, when something completely different – Pinter’s The Birthday Party – is on the bill.

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