Shakespeare & Company’s ‘Twelfth Night’ an elaborate piece
LENOX, MASS. >> One of the special things about Shakespeare & Company is that no matter how many times you’ve seen one of Shakespeare’s plays, every one of their new productions gives the feeling you are seeing it for the first time.
Shakespeare & Company’s productions always reveal some new insight or offer an interpretation of one of the Bard’s plays that makes it fresh and appealing.
This is certainly the case with their current production of “Twelfth Night,” which continues at Lenox, Mass through Aug. 4.
It’s an excellently performed piece that elaborates on the individual personalities of each character. The language is spoken with clarity and the words define the emotional truth of every moment.
This production is set in 1959, and if the time does nothing else - it permits the show to be offered in a visually colorful fashion. And, in this effort, added contemporary music and dance are special treats.
As for content, the production makes it very clear that “Twelfth Night” is actually two plays in one.
There is the story of Viola who is shipwrecked and finds herself in a strange land. Disguised as a young man, she becomes an aide to Duke Orsino, and an emissary to woo, Olivia, the woman he loves.
Shakespeare, being Shakespeare, has Olivia fall in love with the male version of Viola and even has Orsino feeling a certain fondness for him/her.
The other story has to do with a trio of neerdowells - Sir Toby, Sir Andrew Arguecheek and the fool Feste - who are joined by Olivia’s Lady in Waiting Maria. They decide to seriously prank the stuffy and arrogant steward, Malvolio.
One story line is rich with romantic undercurrents made humorous by mistaken identity. The other is low, silly comedy.
Director Allyn Burrows puts almost all the empasis of the first act on the Malvolio plot, but with a subtle twist. Instead of the schemers being drunken pranksters, they are pranksters who drink a lot. It gives people who are usually seen as lowlifes more credibility and intelligence.
The segment is made delightful by having the three pranksters play musical instruments making their dubious actions seem merry.
Nonetheless, the choice to give the quartet increased sophistication has consequences. Even though it elevates the humor of the wordplay, it also pushes their treatment of Malvolio to appear mean spirited. Their actions are not thoughtless, they are unkind.
This is made even more disaffecting because Miles Anderson’s superb characterization of the Steward shows the man’s only sin to be demanding - which seems a prerequisite for his position. Thus, his embarrassing and even torturous treatment seems undeserved. Yes, you might laugh - but rather uncomfortably.
In the second act, the sudden appearance of Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother, who was presumed to be drowned, elevates the mistaken identity problems of the upperclass characters.
However, because Viola, Orsino and Olivia were in the background and played as rather dull melancholy characters throughout act one, it is difficult to suddenly invest in their dilemma.
However, through the miracle of excellent acting, brilliant writing and vibrant staging it all comes together in a happy way.
This “Twelfth Night” is not the definitive version of this great play. However, it is a fresh approach that is fun to experience.
“Twelfth Night” at Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, Mass. through August 3. For tickets and scheduling information call (413) 6373353 or go to shakespeare. org.