Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Director Jeff Church breathes new life into Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, Burbage Theatre Company’s 7th season winter production, making it an irreverent romp. The show is set in Illyria and is about shipwrecked Viola who disguises herself as a man. She falls in love with her employer, Count Orsino and the beautiful Olivia falls in love with Cesario who is Viola in disguise. The comic subplot concerns her pompous servant Malvolio who insults her uncle, Sir Toby Belch and another would-be suitor, Andrew Aguecheek for too much revelry and they plot their revenge on him by making him think Olivia is in love with him. It also concerns Olivia’s jester, Feste and her servants, Maria and Fabian. Meanwhile, Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian has been rescued by Antonio and appears on the scene. Of course, Olivia mistakes him for Cesario asking him to marry her. However all’s well that ends well with all the loose ends being tied up by the end of this comic romp by Jeff’s clever and inventive direction. He provides many comic situations and much shtick in his theatre in the round with four entrances from the stormy ship wreck to the joyful finish by keeping the audience entertained all night long.
Jeff’s cast has terrific comic timing and his topnotch blocking makes the scenes flow seamlessly. The colorful costumes are by Morgan Clark while the set is by Andrew Iacovelli with secret hiding places for Toby’s hidden booze. The lighting effects are by Jessica Winward and are incredible including disco lighting and lightning effects for the shipwreck. She is also the stage manager. Alison Russo does an incredible job as Viola while playing the role of man and woman. As the man she uses her posture to fool everyone. Alison makes the role crackle with electricity and gives it the heart and soul it needs. I have been reviewing her since she was in high school in 2009 and she delivers the goods every single time. Leandro Castro does a wonderful job as Orsino. He could be a little more forceful while ordering his servant around constantly while trying to court Olivia. The count doesn’t realize his own true love worked for him the whole time. Leandro’s Spanish lines are more intense and humorous.
The other couple who finally end up at the end of the night are Allison Crews as Olivia and Marc Mancini as Sebastian. Allison does a marvelous job as the strong willed Olivia. She handles the transition into a softer more loving woman when she falls in love with Cesario. One of her funniest bits occurs when Olivia woos Viola disguised as Cesario and when she enters smoking a cigarette after she has sex with Sebastian. Marc is a force to be reckoned with as the hero who wins Olivia’s heart. He makes the character likeable even though he beats the crap out of Toby and Andrew. They are dynamic as this couple.
Toby Belch and his crazy companions bring the comic power to this show. Tom Gleadow as Sir Toby is the biggest scene stealer on stage. He is a laugh riot from his first entrance as a drunken lout to his closing wedding scene where he finds a bottle of booze on a member of the audience. Toby swills down many a drink and Tom is topnotch as this naughty, bawdy man. His scene in the garden has to be seen to be believed where they spell out a very naughty word. His cohorts in laughter are Andrew and Feste. Richard Whitehead plays the dimwitted, clumsy Sir Andrew who secretly loves Olivia. The talented Ben Church is a hoot as Feste, the fool. The wandering idiot of Illyria who is lot smarter then you think by collecting money from everyone he outwits. Feste first appears while singing and then Ben has many comic moments of shtick to tickle your funny bone and capture your heart at his madcap antics. He uses his voice to play many roles while fooling Malvolio.
Dillon Medina is excellent as the evil Malvolio who is mistreated by the comic cohorts in this show. He starts out as a stuffy servant and is later tricked into being a grinning suitor of Olivia. Malvolio eventually is thrown in a pit for being daft. Dillon’s yellow tights with cross garters are hysterical and he wins many laughs in this role. Olivia’s servants are Gabrielle McCauley and Margaret Melozzi as Fabian and Maria. They play the butler who helps out Toby with his plans and the maid who controls the crazy household by using her smarts to outwit the offensive Malvolio. Jason Quinn plays Antonio, the sea captain who rescues Sebastian. Kudos to Jeff and his cast and crew for modernizing this show into a farcical romp that the audience can savor and enjoy. So be sure to catch “Twelfth Night” at Burbage Theatre Company before time runs out. Tell them Tony sent you.
TWELFTH NIGHT (23 February to 18 March)
Burbage Theatre Company, 249 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI
1(401)484-0355 or www.burbagetheatre.org
