Twelfth Night

Synopsis

Or What You Will. Shakespeare comedy of mistaken identity, practical jokes and unrequited love. Rescued from a shipwreck the twins Viola and Sebastian arrive independently in Illyria, both thinking the other is drowned. Viola disguises herself as a boy and finds employment with the Duke who is in love with Olivia. Malvolio is the subject of a cruel joke played on him by Sir Toby Belch (yellow stockings cross-gartered) leading him to believe that Olivia loves him. But Olivia has fallen in love with the disguised Viola, while she is in love with the Duke (following it so far?!).

Our Review:

11 December 2008

Director Michael Grandage conjures up an almost magical Illyria, drenched in sunshine. This is a Twelfth Night as imagined by PG Wodehouse, with a glorious 30s setting, and rich on the interplay between the aristocracy and their servants. Derek Jacobi's Malvolio, dripping with unctuousness, is the epitome of servility – while at the same time dreaming of a place amongst his betters.

The eavesdropping scene is played to perfection, the three plotters (Fabian has been dropped from the play) being forced to stuff their handkerchiefs in their mouths from laughter as Malvolio is drawn into their trap and the last image before audiences troop off to the interval is seeing Jacobi trying to wrest a smile from his lips, a struggle for a man after a lifetime of seriousness.

The class aspect is extremely well-played, with all characters fully aware of their positions in society – positions that become considerably disrupted in the course o...

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Latest User Review

rds - 11 January 2009:

Reading the reviews here it seems to me that Manos, the first reviewer, echos my feelings entirely and he'd made allowances for seeing an early preview, whereas I saw it over four weeks later which ought to have given the cast plenty of time to run in? Jacobi is a stylish actor but lacks the comedic gifts required to play Malvolio The production lacked zest, it plodded along. Guy Henry as Sir Andrew, a talented actor who does have a gift for comedy, seemed to be holding back, was this because he may have over shadowed Jacobi's performance? Most probable. The somewhat muted reaction at the curtain call spoke volumes. All in all a big disappointment....

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