Wednesday, January 31, 2001
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Wednesday, January 31, 2001 |
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'Twelfth Night' gives Fayette County a good dose of Shakespearean comedy By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Shakespearean plays are not the easiest plays to view. The language often seems foreign and the pacing can be quite intimidating to unfamiliar audiences. That said, Offshoot Productions' presentation of "Twelfth Night" is a very entertaining show, full of music, mirth and excellent performances. "Twelfth Night" is a comedic tale about unrequited love and mistaken identities. Olivia is in mourning over the death of her brother, but many men in Illyria are in love with her including Count Orsino, her cousin's friend Sir Andrew, and her steward, Malvolio. Olivia instead falls for Cesario, who is really Viola in disguise, so she can get closer to Orsino. The comedy masterfully escalates as the characters get closer to knowing the truth about the people they love. Laura Cole plays Viola, the central character of the play. Fluctuating between grief over her brother, whom she believes is dead, love for Orsino and frustration at Olivia's advances towards her as Cesario, Cole is wonderful. Whether trying to avoid a battle with Sir Andrew (who wants no part of a fight either) or almost kissing Orsino after listening to a delicate speech on love, Viola is the ultimate guide through the madness in Illyria. There were a number of solid performances in the show, including Amanda Harvey as Feste, a clown in Olivia's household, Tony Falcitelli as Sir Toby, Olivia's cousin, and Jerome Fulford as Malvolio. Both Cole and Fulford have performed at The Shakespeare Tavern and the rest of the cast has extensive experience in theater. "Twelfth Night" also reaped the benefits of beautiful costumes and a fantastic set and lighting design. The space at the Royce Regeon Band Hall at the LaFayette Educational Center is intimate and makes audience members feel like they are a part of the show. Another fantastic portion of the show was the music. Feste sang several folk songs during the show, while a small group of musicians performed material beforehand. Martha Clarke was the musical director and arranger, while Paige Steadman composed the additional music in the show. All of these aspects were intertwined exceptionally well by director Susan Steadman. The show will be presented at 8 p.m., Thursdays-Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 11. Admission is $10 for adults and $7.50 for students and senior citizens. Call 770-631-2362 for information. |
