Twelfth Night

I very much need to draw breath and work out what I’ve just seen. Over my career I’ve seen more Shakespeare plays than I can recall and been in quite a few myself, but I have never seen one presented in this way, or one that made me laugh so much. Billed as interactive and immersive, this was full on in-your-face comedy. Yes, the Bard’s immortal script was all there, but there the similarities ended and the hilarity began in this version directed by Ollie Elkin and assisted by Nessa Groom and Erin Watson. More a night out at the Comedy Store than highbrow theatre.

First of all, it was set in the future described in the very informative programme as ‘A World where old certainties had fallen away leaving people to redefine who they were…. A Place where music, celebration and a little foolishness were returning.’ An understatement if ever there was one!

The set itself, designed by Maxine Connolly and constructed by Dave Maltby and Jesse Munford was the first giveaway. The whole of the back of the set was lined with haphazardly placed corrugated iron (or plastic) sheets, In the centre rear was a stand of modern art, with a board filled with a collection of stuck on eclectic toys, dolls and other paraphilia. Illyria was dystopian in a highly amusing presentation!

Costumes by Jessie Fox were also an eclectic mix, between modern and medieval from baggy trousers and long skirts to colourful sackcloth tops and totally modern footwear. The outstanding costume was of course the yellow dress and tights (or garters) worn by Malvolio after she is set up by Maria’s letter pretending to be Lady Olivia.

The Bigg theatre is actually quite small and certainly intimate, with a stage extension jutting into the auditorium leaving the audience in close proximity on three sides with narrow corridors between rows and perfect for audience interaction, which from the moment Sir Toby Belch, played by Seph Moloney staggered drunkenly in from the front of the stage, with a booming voice we knew this was going to be a treat on that!  Several parties later and he even had us all singing ‘For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow!’

His compatriot in these high jinks is of course Sir Andrew Aquecheek, but in this crossdressing version he is played by Jodi Carlton, with a wonderfully comic painted on handlebar moustache complete with twirls and a very mischievous smile. And just like Sir Toby played in high octane mode with superb comic timing with ad libs where necessary, including an apology for gobbing into my beer, to huge laughter.

Duke Orsino played by Keenan Groom is the lovesick romantic who is one of the few serious characters in the whole play with a very measured performance. And of course he delivers those immortal opening lines, ‘If music be the food of love, play on!

Viola (Cesario) played by Katrina Harrington was the linchpin of the production and gave a memorable performance with plenty of both pathos and humour in equal measure. The attempted seduction scene on the floor with Lady Olivia was a comedic delight.

I was somewhat stunned when Sebastian played by Jonny Peace appeared, to note that he and Katrina Harrington really do look like each other with long flowing ponytail style red hair. They could actually be twins! Lucky coincidence?

Malvolio played by Fiona Hockey was extremely well pitched and her scene tied to a chair and blindfolded was both comedic and heartbreaking at the same time, and when she recited the speech where she relates her treatment by the plotters is heart wrenchingly well delivered. Brilliant performance! She also threw a certain Noda rep off the stage who had been invited to join one of Sir Toby’s parties by Sir Andrew!

Lady Olivia played by Hannah Riley who used her impressive height to get across her station in life, gave us an imposing member of the aristocracy, with the slightly aloof attitude suited to her station, but of course lust did at one point get the better of her, to our great amusement.

Maria played by Kay Young was the mischievous attendant who continually swept onto the stage to take charge of the mayhem around her and plotted the downfall of Malvolio. Another high jinks performance played with great energy and again with great comic timing.

Antonio, the wanted fugitive played by Jesse Munford, looked every bit the imposing fighting man with his huge black beard and leather shoulder armour was a welcome contrast to the comedy playing the loyal serious sea captain who rescues Sebastian.

Fabian played by Spice New-Szarvas was an imposing figure in a grey jump suit, who probably personified the dystopian setting particularly illustrated by her strange habit of continually carrying around a spoked bicycle wheel.

The glue to this show and which kept the level of comedy at a high peak was the performance of Feste or Fool, played by Joe Marshall dressed like he was an aging rocker who was always breaking into song and playing his ukulele to great merriment and with excellent rapour with the audience. Could have entertained us all night!

Valentine played by Deborah Humphreys one of Duke Orsino attendants and sent unsuccessfully by him to woo Lady Olivia. She is pretty good on the recorder as well.

Well done also to Nessa Groom in her cameo as The Ship’s captain and to Kara Morrallee who played Curio and an Officer.

The delight of this version was the intimacy between audience and players. The little winks and nods to individuals in the audience, the incredulous expressions, together with the sublime OTT delivery of the comedy just made this an hilarious production. I think Will himself would have approved of this version. Would it have worked in a bigger theatre with the audience more detached from the stage? I don’t know, but I doubt it. However, Ollie Elkin and his cast and crew took full advantage of their surroundings and pulled off a masterpiece of the Bard’s work. Best summed up by my wife, not one of the Bard’s biggest fans, who this morning said, “I wouldn’t mind going to see that production again tonight.” Before yesterday I can guarantee no such statement had ever have been uttered by her to any Shakespeare!

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