After a five year hiatus, South Stream Productions returns with an ambitious and rollicking Twelfth NIght to welcome the new year. Director Hayley Philippart thoroughly and effectively mines Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and love triangles to elicit a laugh-out-loud merry night of theatrical revelry.
The Ridge offers a spacious playroom for this skilled ensemble of seven to caper about pursuing love and mischief. Doubling and even tripling, the talented troupe conveys a dozen characters with vibrant inventiveness. Gleeful asides, cheeky mocking, and general bedlam abound and bump up against witty wordplay to keep the comedy flowing. Even the playful changing of roles and tossing of costumes garner a round of laughs. Loads of props to Costume Designer Sally Beale whose colorful vests clearly delineate different characters and the other fanciful clothing choices.
Philippart’s approach focuses on the humor of miscommunication that occurs in this tale of twins, separated in a shipwreck, and each believing the other to have drowned. Viola lands in Duke Orsino’s court where, disguised as Cesario, she’s asked to woo the Countess Olivia. Instead, she finds herself the object of affection of the Countess while she has developed feelings for the Duke. Why is love ever so complicated? Or so blind? And how will the appearance of Viola’s twin, Sabastian, resolve love’s conflicts? It’s delightful to watch and indulge in the zaniness of it all.
As Viola/Cesario, Miranda Curtis portrays a resourceful woman who has her grounded sensibility upended by her attraction to the Duke and the unexpected affections of the Countess. Brook North gives the romantic Duke just the right amount of charm to win Viola’s favor; she is wooed by the words of his heart, even if they are meant for another. As Olivia, Barrett gives full rein to the feisty side of this haughty Countess who becomes smitten with the Duke’s messenger. Each of their scenes together serve to ratchet up the sexual tension of this side of the lively rom-com.
The intersecting plot offers the high hilarity of the best sketch comedy. Sir Toby Belch drinks and cavorts with his side-kick, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a gentleman who is comically inept in his attempt to court the Countess Olivia. Aided by one of Olivia’s attendants, Maria (an indelible performance by Akili Holder-Cozart), they concoct a scheme to humiliate the prim and preening Malvolio. Olivia Griego enthusiastically prances about as the courtier who believes he must corral the misdeeds of those who abuse the hospitality of his mistress, the Countess Olivia. Unfortunately, it is his own arrogant naivete that Sir Toby and his group exploit to lay him low.
In addition to playing Orsino, North also portrays the boisterous and consummate party animal, Sir Toby. His exuberance partners well with the physical comedy of Natalie Turgeon’s Sir Andrew to garner some of the show’s loudest and longest laughter. More great comedy was delivered by the multi-talented Julie Oliver as she flitted about delivering the wisest wit as the kazoo-playing, candy-chewing Feste.
What’s most wonderful about this production is the absolutely delightful journey offered to the audience who are given Shakespeare to enjoy and embrace. Since this is an election year, what a welcome respite – and maybe a reminder of the need to sometimes laugh at how absurd we humans can be.
The South Stream production of Twelfth Night runs through Janauary 21. For more information visit https://www.southstreamproductions.com/.
