Review: Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' Is A Comedy Of Identity
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
However, every year there's a William Shakespeare production at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend as part of The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. This year's show is "Twelfth Night," the Bard's comedy about mistaken identity and gender.
In previous years, I've seen Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 2003, "Romeo & Juliet" in 2004 and "Henry V" in 2005. They all were well done, and "Twelfth Night" is no exception.
My opportunity to see the superbly done production came Aug. 21 on the Decio Mainstage Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the campus of Notre Dame.
In "Twelfth Night," Viola (Maggie Donnelly) and her brother Sebastian (Matthew Goodrich) both end up shipwrecked but in different locations. Both think the other is dead.
Viola ends up on the shores of Illyria. She chooses to masquerade as Cesario, a young pager, and enters the service of Duke Orsino (Christopher Kelly). As Cesario, Viola looks very much like her brother Sebastian, and chooses to wear clothing that he would have worn.
Orsino is attempting to woo Lady Olivia (Lesley Bevan). Olivia's brother and father both recently died, and Olivio will have nothing to do with any suitors, including Orsino. Along the way, Orsino decides to use Cesario as the go-between.
Olivia falls head over heels for Cesario, never knowing he is a she in man's clothing. However, while urging Olivia to fall for the Duke, Viola herself falls for Orsino, who believes Cesario is a man. Got that?
Donnelly does a very good job acting as a woman pretending to be a man, being pursued by a woman, but in love with the man who's in love with another woman. That can be confusing just to wrap your head around.
As the Duke, Kelly delivers his part flawlessly. He is charming and handsome, with the strength of a military man. When he needs to showcase his emotions - whether exasperation or anger - they are easily read in his face and body language.
Bevan is just as good. Her portrayal is like someone was plucked from the 17th Century to give the play believability. "Twelfth Night" is Bevan's debut with Notre Dame Shakespeare, but she's obviously not a novice at acting.
Of course, what's a Shakespeare play without a subplot?
Olivia has an uptight, arrogant head steward named Malvolio (Donald Carrier). Several characters, including Maria (Cindy Gold), Olivia's uncle Sir Toby Belch (Frank Kopyc), Fabian (Greg Melton), another suitor Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Christopher McLinden) and Feste the Fool (Matt Edmonds) work together to play a long, drawn-out prank on Malvolio.
As Maria can forge Olivia's handwriting very effectively, the conspirators make Malvolio believe Olivia wants him. When, in the end, Malvolio discovers the joke, he storms off, swearing revenge.
Carrier plays Malvolio so uptight, it's hilarious when Malvolio has to deal with the situations the conspirators put him in. When Malvolio follows the letter he receives to the T, it's a highlight for the night.
As Sir Andrew, McLinden plays him as more of a fool then Feste. It is between these two roles, as played by Edmonds and McLinden, that the subplot really keeps the audience in stitches. I could easily see Edmonds playing Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the next time that show comes around. Edmonds reminded me so much of the character Puck from Notre Dame's production of "Midsummer" in 2003.
Eventually, Sebastian arrives on the scene, causing chaos. As Olivia thinks Sebastian is Cesario, she marries Sebastian. Viola and Sebastian eventually run into each other and everyone finds out that Cesario is not a man, but a woman. Olivia decides to stay married to Sebastian, and the Duke decides he does love Viola.[[In-content Ad]]Part of what makes this production so good is the costumes and stage design. "Twelfth Night" could be set almost in any time period. For the ND production, the costumes are reminiscent of the late 19th Century to early 20th Century, but go very well with the play. Costume designer Richard E. Donnelly does a fantastic job.
On one side of the stage is a two-story "house." When necessary, the big house rotates on a wheel so the back looks like scenery from a woods. It's very impressive, though it moves a little slow. However, scenic designer Marcus Stephens should be proud of his work.
If you haven't caught "Twelfth Night" yet, then you have until Sunday to do so. I highly recommend it, not only for Shakespeare lovers, but for anyone who wants a hearty laugh and good entertainment.
The show is directed by David H. Bell.
My rating (out of four): 3.75.
Remaining show dates are: today through Thursday, all shows at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m.
However, every year there's a William Shakespeare production at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend as part of The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. This year's show is "Twelfth Night," the Bard's comedy about mistaken identity and gender.
In previous years, I've seen Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 2003, "Romeo & Juliet" in 2004 and "Henry V" in 2005. They all were well done, and "Twelfth Night" is no exception.
My opportunity to see the superbly done production came Aug. 21 on the Decio Mainstage Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the campus of Notre Dame.
In "Twelfth Night," Viola (Maggie Donnelly) and her brother Sebastian (Matthew Goodrich) both end up shipwrecked but in different locations. Both think the other is dead.
Viola ends up on the shores of Illyria. She chooses to masquerade as Cesario, a young pager, and enters the service of Duke Orsino (Christopher Kelly). As Cesario, Viola looks very much like her brother Sebastian, and chooses to wear clothing that he would have worn.
Orsino is attempting to woo Lady Olivia (Lesley Bevan). Olivia's brother and father both recently died, and Olivio will have nothing to do with any suitors, including Orsino. Along the way, Orsino decides to use Cesario as the go-between.
Olivia falls head over heels for Cesario, never knowing he is a she in man's clothing. However, while urging Olivia to fall for the Duke, Viola herself falls for Orsino, who believes Cesario is a man. Got that?
Donnelly does a very good job acting as a woman pretending to be a man, being pursued by a woman, but in love with the man who's in love with another woman. That can be confusing just to wrap your head around.
As the Duke, Kelly delivers his part flawlessly. He is charming and handsome, with the strength of a military man. When he needs to showcase his emotions - whether exasperation or anger - they are easily read in his face and body language.
Bevan is just as good. Her portrayal is like someone was plucked from the 17th Century to give the play believability. "Twelfth Night" is Bevan's debut with Notre Dame Shakespeare, but she's obviously not a novice at acting.
Of course, what's a Shakespeare play without a subplot?
Olivia has an uptight, arrogant head steward named Malvolio (Donald Carrier). Several characters, including Maria (Cindy Gold), Olivia's uncle Sir Toby Belch (Frank Kopyc), Fabian (Greg Melton), another suitor Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Christopher McLinden) and Feste the Fool (Matt Edmonds) work together to play a long, drawn-out prank on Malvolio.
As Maria can forge Olivia's handwriting very effectively, the conspirators make Malvolio believe Olivia wants him. When, in the end, Malvolio discovers the joke, he storms off, swearing revenge.
Carrier plays Malvolio so uptight, it's hilarious when Malvolio has to deal with the situations the conspirators put him in. When Malvolio follows the letter he receives to the T, it's a highlight for the night.
As Sir Andrew, McLinden plays him as more of a fool then Feste. It is between these two roles, as played by Edmonds and McLinden, that the subplot really keeps the audience in stitches. I could easily see Edmonds playing Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the next time that show comes around. Edmonds reminded me so much of the character Puck from Notre Dame's production of "Midsummer" in 2003.
Eventually, Sebastian arrives on the scene, causing chaos. As Olivia thinks Sebastian is Cesario, she marries Sebastian. Viola and Sebastian eventually run into each other and everyone finds out that Cesario is not a man, but a woman. Olivia decides to stay married to Sebastian, and the Duke decides he does love Viola.[[In-content Ad]]Part of what makes this production so good is the costumes and stage design. "Twelfth Night" could be set almost in any time period. For the ND production, the costumes are reminiscent of the late 19th Century to early 20th Century, but go very well with the play. Costume designer Richard E. Donnelly does a fantastic job.
On one side of the stage is a two-story "house." When necessary, the big house rotates on a wheel so the back looks like scenery from a woods. It's very impressive, though it moves a little slow. However, scenic designer Marcus Stephens should be proud of his work.
If you haven't caught "Twelfth Night" yet, then you have until Sunday to do so. I highly recommend it, not only for Shakespeare lovers, but for anyone who wants a hearty laugh and good entertainment.
The show is directed by David H. Bell.
My rating (out of four): 3.75.
Remaining show dates are: today through Thursday, all shows at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m.
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