Twelfth Night (Shakespeare By The Sea 2023 Production) Theatre Review

Twelfth Night set

Each summer Shakespeare By The Sea, which is based in San Pedro, takes two Shakespeare plays on the road, performing them in various parks throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. This year, which is the company’s twenty-sixth season, the two plays chosen are Twelfth Night and Hamlet. Last night, the company put on Twelfth Night at Sepulveda Garden Center in Encino, the first time performing at that location. It was a nice park, with trees helping keep the entire audience shaded, something important in the valley at the end of July. The set was a little different than normal, with only the top level allowed to be put up because of some regulation at the park. So some of the action was played on the grass in front of the set, which worked just fine. The set itself is in the general shape of a boat, which keeps the shipwreck that separates the siblings in the minds of the audience throughout the performance.

This production begins with an added brief moment of Viola (Barbara Urich) and Sebastian (Mateo Mpinduzi-Mott) on the boat, reaching for each other and then going overboard off the back of the set, while we hear the sounds of a storm. Then, as is often done, Scene 2 is placed before Scene 1, so that we are introduced to Viola before Orsino. What is interesting about this opening is that while Scene 2 is playing out stage right, the first scene of Act II, with Sebastian and Antonio (Ranier Acosta) is performed stage left, so that we see the similar fates of the siblings occurring simultaneously. It makes for an interesting and moving stage image, of both brother and sister sad, each thinking of the other drowned, and each holding an item belonging to the other. It is also effective in making the audience care about Sebastian as much as about Viola, which is generally not the case. This production then moves to the third scene of Act I, with Sir Toby (Patrick Vest) and Maria (Tara Donovan), who enter through the audience, Toby carrying a drink. On Maria’s “drunk nightly in your company,” she wrests the cup from his grasp. Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Brendan Robert Kane) likewise enters through the audience, and immediately receives laughs from the crowd. Brendan Robert Kane was excellent as Henry VI in last year’s Henry VI Part 2, and he delivers one of this production’s best performances, often approaching the top but never going over. Toby in this scene helps decorate the stage, making it more festive, by hanging several theatrical masks, while Sir Andrew says that he will stay a month longer, adding, “I delight in masques.” He then turns around to see the masks, and exclaims in joy.

Then we meet Orsino (Trevor Guyton), who delivers what is the first line of the text, “If music be the food of love, play on!” Here that first moment is combined with the fourth scene of the play, the first to feature Viola as Cesario. Viola’s expressions when Orsino says “That say thou art a man” and “a woman’s part” are hilarious. Feste (Peter Green) wears a variation of a traditional fool’s outfit, and carries a banjo, which he then uses to accompany his singing. Olivia (Nneka) wears a black shawl over her grey dress to signify mourning for her brother. Malvolio (Jonathan Fisher) is dressed in black to match his lady’s mourning clothes, and has a serious countenance. Jonathan Fisher gave a fantastic performance as King Henry V in 2019’s production of Henry V, and likewise shines as Malvolio. There is an excellent moment as he tries to be funny, to amuse his lady, after the fool has exited, hinting that Malvolio wishes to be all things to Olivia. You get the sense that if he could, he would send everyone else away. There is another great moment when Olivia begins to become interested in Cesario, the change in her expression, and a slight change in the way she holds herself, this new attraction coming as a surprise even to herself. And later this new attraction will cause her to discard her mourning shawl, telling in itself.

Perhaps in part because the first scene of Act II was moved earlier, this production contains an added bit of business where Malvolio tries to give the ring to Sebastian, mistaking him for Cesario. This happens in the spot where Act II Scene i would normally be. He is unable to catch up to Sebastian, and then sees Viola, and Act II Scene ii proceeds from there. The problem here, and throughout the production, is that the actors playing Viola and Sebastian look absolutely nothing alike. And not only Malvolio, but Olivia, Antonio, Andrew, Toby and even Feste mistake one for the other. Of course, there is always a little suspension of disbelief necessary to accept that Olivia, who is in love with Cesario, wouldn’t notice the difference, even when the two actors greatly resemble each other. But here it is ludicrous. They are wearing the same clothes, true, and are roughly the same height, but there the similarities end. But both give such good performances, and the production is so much fun that we do our best to ignore this troublesome aspect.

Feste’s delivery of “O Mistress Mine” contains no sadness, and Sir Andrew dances around in joy while it is performed. And when Malvolio enters to put an end to their fun, Toby, Feste and Andrew take great joy in their play with him. Patrick Vest was excellent as Leontes in the company’s 2018 production of The Winter’s Tale and as Iago in the 2016 production of Othello, and it is wonderful to get to see him shine in this comedic role. And when Maria enters, things become even more fun, for it is she who decides to take their plot against Malvolio to another level. Tara Donovan gave a remarkable performance as Eleanor in Henry VI Part 2, and likewise delivered a distinctive Tamora in 2020’s Titus Andronicus. And she is a delight here as Maria. During Feste’s next song, Viola sits just beneath Orsino, and glances at him with adoration, which he does not notice, a nice touch. And it is on this song that Feste becomes more serious. The gulling of Malvolio is a completely fun scene, as you’d expect from these talented actors. Toby and Andrew conceal themselves upstage of Malvolio (Fabian is cut from this production), and when Malvolio mentions Toby, Toby rises behind him with anger. And when Malvolio mentions a “foolish knight,” Andrew declares proudly and joyfully, “That’s me, I warrant you,” which is hilarious, showing just what a sad character this is, that he is thrilled to be referred to at all, to be thought of at all.  As Malvolio delivers the famous lines about “greatness,” he spins around, creating a funny bit of stage business where Toby and Andrew have to keep ducking down. Malvolio is particularly funny here, and he nearly dances off the stage with the letter. And of course he is also funny when appearing in the yellow stockings. There is a nice moment when Feste, caught off guard by the sight of Malvolio, laughs before continuing with his business. And Feste takes great delight is pretending to be Sir Topas, particularly when going back and forth between Topas and himself. There is also some funny business with Melissa Ortiz as the Officer who has arrested Antonio for Orsino. This production moves at a quick pace, and focuses on the comedy. For example, we in the audience never really feel bad for Malvolio, even when he is mistreated, for we are too busy laughing. Orsino has the last word here, for Feste’s final song is cut.

This production of Twelfth Night was directed by Patrick Vest. There are only a few more performances, so check the Shakespeare By The Sea website for the schedule. There is one brief intermission, which comes at the end of Act III Scene ii. There is a delightful bit of business when Andrew is caught still on stage when the intermission announcement occurs over the speakers, and he looks around, frightened by the unexpected voice.