The most enjoyable ride
“Why, this is very midsummer madness,” said Olivia (Laura Hannah) to Malvolio (Pearce Quigley) as he proudly models the cross gartered yellow stockings he had been tricked into wearing by Maria (Alison Halstead), Olivia’s maid, writes Linda Emmanuel.
Director Robin Bellfield’s production of Twelfth Night or What You Will certainly delivers a fast-paced laugh-minute comedy, giving the characters Malvolio (Pearce Quigley), Lady Belch (Jocelyn Jee Esien) and Andrew Aguecheek (Ian Drysdale) ample opportunities to take the audience on the most enjoyable ride of their lives.
Viola (Ronke Adekoluejo), separated from her twin brother Sebastian (Kwame Odoom) in a shipwreck, arrives in Illyria where she disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and becomes a servant to the Duke Orsino (Solomon Israel). He sends her to woo Olivia on his behalf. Olivia falls in love with disguised Viola. Meanwhile, in this interpretation, we find that Antonio (Max Keeble) has deep affections for Sebastian, who eventually falls in love with Olivia. Confused? You will be.
The whole cast are superb in their roles, with Feste (Jos Vantyler) adding to the feeling of being at a bacchanalian festival. The set, a gold-coloured sunburst designed by Jean Chan, is used with great efficiency for their entrances and exits. Lydia Hardiman, costume supervisor, is responsible for the wonderfully colourful and extravagant costumes, which gave a nod to the different cultures and social standing of the characters.
The five musicians, Louise Duggan on percussion, Melanie Henry playing woodwind, Richard Henry playing bass trombone/tuba, Rob Updegraff on guitar/banjo and Adrian Woodward on trumpet are set on a level above the main stage, from where they perform music composed by Simon Slater and definitely deserve a mention.
The groundlings certainly add to the atmosphere of a Globe production: ready for the fourth wall breaking and handling props thrown at them, to being brought up onto the stage to get their cameo moments with the cast, a kind of Shakespearean lotto where the prize may be getting the chance to be playfully insulted by Malvolio.
I highly recommend this show as an excellent opportunity to forget our troubles and to laugh at ourselves in a safe environment. We are reminded that no matter how bad or confusing things may get, there is always a way to survive, as long as we have the love of another to support us.
Twelfth Night or What You Will at the Globe Theatre until 25th October 2025.
Booking and full details: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/twelfth-night/
