TWELFTH NIGHT To 26 August.

Tour.

TWELFTH NIGHT
by William Shakespeare.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men Tour to 26 August 2009.
Runs 2hr 45min one interval.
Review: Alan Geary 26 July at Newstead Abbey.

This summer’s touring production of Twelfth Night, directed by Andrew Normington, demonstrates what we already knew - in most key respects The Lord Chamberlain’s Men might be the finest open-air company in the country.

They always present their Shakespeare inside an overall-Elizabethan context and in authentic Elizabethan costumes. Most crucially, they’re an all-male company so all the parts are played by men. But we’re light-years away from crudely comic drag: what we get instead is consistently accomplished acting.

This is seen most strikingly in the wooing scenes, when the greatest demands are placed on the actors. In this particular play, of course, extra layers of interest are added by the mix-up between identical twins Viola and Sebastian.

Lord Chamberlain’s productions are always done free of gratuitous directorial gimmickry and the text is always allowed to speak for itself. This approach allows us to appreciate what a wonderful play Twelfth Night is.

Orsino is beautifully spoken by Mawgan Gyles - on a rain-lashed evening projection by the entire cast of seven was faultless. Conner Williams’s Sir Toby is robust and realistic. Malvolio, played by Paul Brendan in Puritan togs to suit a very anti-Puritan play, has a splendidly-done pinched and adenoidal voice. Mark Martin, as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, with flamboyant mannerisms and a hat to match, is a joy. Particularly considering this is an open-air production Joe Marsh gives a remarkably subtle performance as Olivia.

The musical element is outstanding. The songs here are not just thrown in to fill out the evening: the lyrics are bitter and significant. And they’re brilliantly delivered, mostly by Tom Micklem as Feste the clown. Micklem also succeeds in highlighting the play’s outrageous sexual innuendo.

This has to be one of the best pieces of theatre to be seen in the Nottingham area so far this season.

Orsino/Maria: Mawgan Gyles.
Viola: Shaun McKee.
Olivia: Joe Marsh.
Sir Andrew/Sebastian: Mark Martin.
Malvolio/Curio/Officer: Paul Bredan.
Sir Toby/Priest: Conner Williams.
Feste/Antonio/Captain: Tom Micklem.

Director: Andrew Normington.
Musical Director: Jonathan Yesten.
Choreographer: Darren Royston.
Costume: Bryony Fayers.
Vocal coach: Gary Owston.

2009-07-31 01:28:59