PicksInSix Theater Review: "Twelfth Night" Writers Theatre
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ON ANY NIGHT!
by Jonathan Bourne
Say “what you will,” you will love the exuberant production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” now playing at the Writers Theatre in Glencoe through December 16th.
The play opens to the aftermath of a shipwreck on the shores of Illyria. Twins, Sebastian (Luce Metrius) and Viola (Jennifer Latimore), each believe the other has drowned. Viola is so distraught she decides to dress up as a man in order to secure employment with the local duke, Orsino (Matthew C. Yee). The Duke is in love with Olivia (Andrea San Miguel) and he sends his new manservant, Cesario/Viola, to plead his case. Olivia, however, is having none of it because she has also just lost a brother and wishes to remain cloistered for seven years of mourning. Everything backfires when Olivia becomes enamored with Cesario/Viola and Cesario/Viola falls in love with Orsino!
The subplot involves Olivia’s servant, Malvolio (Sean Fortunato) who is indignant about the boisterous and besotted antics of Olivia’s household, which includes her uncle, Sir Toby Belch (Kevin Gudahl), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Scott Parkinson) and others. Malvolio, however, is such a priggish killjoy that they decide to play a cruel practical joke on him. Suffice it to say that it involves forged letters, unrequited love, yellow stockings and crossed garters.
Deftly directed by Michael Halberstam, the performances are all first-rate. Nevertheless, Sean Fortunato as the Puritanical Malvolio and Scott Parkinson as benighted Aguecheek merit special mention.
Visually, the production was entirely captivating. The set by William Boles looked like some sort of sunny Adriatic Brigadoon rising out of the Illyrian sea. The costumes by Mara Blumenfeld were an explosion of bright floral prints and all worked perfectly.
Quite simply, “Twelfth Night” is delightful. A wonderful experience on any night! Don’t miss it!
PHOTOS|Michael Brosilow
WRITERS THEATRE
Presents
TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL
through December 16th
325 Tudor Court
Glencoe
(847) 242-6000
WEBSITE
For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago