`Twelfth Night' is a rom-com delight
Like a box of chocolates without any of the weird pineapple-filled kind, “Twelfth Night” is a Shakespearean treat featuring many of The Bard's favorite flavors.
It is jam-packed with separated twins, mistaken identities and fools — by profession, by behavior and in love. Directed by Kathryn McGill, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's new production packages the romantic comedy in a small replica of an Elizabethan theater.
The opening show of its 35th anniversary season, performances continue through March 2 at the theater's cozy Paseo Arts District space.
McGill and her cast plunge into the madcap merriment, with Jessa Schinske making an excellent company debut as Viola, who survives a shipwreck but loses her twin brother, Sebastian (Kris Kuss), who is presumed dead. Disguising herself as a young man named Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino (Jordan Nicholes).
The duke is in love with Countess Olivia (Sarah Lomize) and enlists Cesario to help him woo her. But Viola falls in love with Orsino, while Olivia falls in love with Viola's alter ego, Cesario. And the duke is disturbed by his feelings for his new page.
The romantic entanglements get more knotted when Olivia's uncle Sir Toby (Stephen Hilton) and his drinking buddy Sir Andrew (Nicholas Sumpter) scheme with the countess' lady-in-waiting Maria (Lindsey Rollins) and court jester Feste (Kaleb Michael Bruza) to fool her stuffy steward, Malvolio (Hal Kohlman), into believing that Olivia is in love with him. Onnika Hanson also makes an auspicious company debut playing two different servants and the sea captain Antonia (Antonio in the original play).
Like the bow on the box, the production features delightful original songs by Hilton and Bruza, which give the cast the chance to show off their musical talents. For tickets and information, go to www.oklahomashakespeare.com.