Lenox — Director Allyn Burrows did it: he placed Shakespeare’s wise and hilarious Twelfth Night, or What You Will in a deep, red dance hall by the sea in 1959 — just on the brink of the wild and wooly 1960s, when everything in society really did go mad. And it fits perfectly. “What relish is in this? How runs the stream? Or am I mad, or else this is a dream!” (Twelfth Night: Act IV, Scene l)
The show uses some of Shakespeare’s most iconic plot twists: mistaken identity, gender confusion, ardent yet mixed up lovers — all set in motion by a previous shipwreck. In addition, we’re treated to an original rock and roll score, excellently executed by live musicians (The audience roared every time Steven Barkhimer whipped out his saxophone!), following the lead of the Music Director Gregory Boover. On opening night, people tapped their feet and did spontaneous, periodic hand clapping as the production danced along from beginning to end under the fine tutelage of Susan Dibble, the Movement Director. As always, Govanne Lohbauer and her costume staff have transported the actors and the audience into another time and place, and made everyone comfortable there. Lighting Designer Deb Sullivan and Sound Designer/Composer Arshan Gailus created nothing short of stage magic.
The actors include company members like Steven Barkhimer as Sir Toby Belch and Nigel Gore as Andrew Aguecheek, who seem to be having such a good time, they pull us directly into the jokes. Cloteal L. Horne as Olivia, and Martin Jason Asprey as Antonio are properly confused and confounded. As Feste, Gregory Boover is a funny troublemaker who can sing and play guitar. Deaon Griffin-Pressley is the earnest, “lost” brother, Sebastian, and Bella Merlin plays Maria, the arch instigator of pranks played on Malvolio. Ella Loudon shines in one of Shakespeare’s best-loved trouser roles, the sister/brother servant/lover, Viola. Shakespeare & Company imported Miles Anderson, one of the funniest Malvolios I’ve ever seen from London’s West End and the Old Vic. No one who sees his yellow patterned knee socks complete with goofy crossgarters will easily forget them. Bryce Michael Wood as Orsino, is another fine import. He performed most recently at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre and Goodspeed Opera House.
Commenting on this mature Shakespeare comedy itself, Burrows says that where people long to connect as they do particularly today “expectations are tossed in the air and land like so many scattered shells on the shoreline, inviting and impermanent.” Yet the laughter and fun of the finale of Twelfth Night is as spectacular as it is surprising, and we are immersed in joy, a joy that lingers — as Shakespeare would surely have willed it.
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Tickets for “Twelfth Night” are available online at shakespeare.org, at the Berkshire Edge calendar, and by calling Shakespeare & Company’s box office at (413) 637-3353. The play runs until August 4th. The Tina Packer Playhouse is located at 70 Kemble Street. Lenox, Massachusetts. It is air-conditioned, and wheelchair accessible.
