Honeysuckle Weeks in 'Twelfth Night'

Sadly, Shakespeare seems a step too far for some theatregoers. They dismiss his work as a piece of tedious antiquity not worth dusting down. Witness a disappointing scattering of vacant seats on press night.

[Image courtesy of Rollo Weeks]

Yet here was as compelling a reason to succumb to the Bard’s spell as you could wish for. A splendid cast under the direction of Patrick Mason enchanted throughout. Here was a production that strove to please with a feelgood factor that would challenge any dissenters. The comic duplicity and mistaken identities were deftly delivered, counterpointed with moments of romantic poignancy.

Matthew Kelly made a mesmeric Malvolio, every inch a pompous steward, right down to the affected, impatient twitching of his fingers. Here was vanity of stupendous gravitas yet when undone he became incandescent with hurt.

Honeysuckle Weeks, enchanted as Viola. Disguised as a boy and serving her master Orsino (Bob Cryer), she gave a wry edge to her romantic message carrying to Olivia (Rebecca Egan) in this love triangle with a twist.

[From: Shakespeare Survey - page 59]

The heavyweight humour was courtesy of the bawdy shenanigans of Sir Toby Belch (Christopher Benjamin), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Roger Barclay) and Feste (Hilton McRae).

This trio fired off each other with impeccable timing, none more so than when their late night revelries were halted by Malvolio.

Anita Booth was a sparky Maria. Christopher Harper as Sebastian – brother of Viola – triggered the concluding confusion as the story spiralled into its farce-like denouement.

The production was staged in Mike Britton’s strikingly simple yet impressive set where the sides contract from walls to columns like vertical blinds.

Source. Play ran in 2005.