|
Illyria has
been transported to the royal resorts of the Black Sea coast
of Bulgaria in the early 20th Century, a shift which allows
costumers Renée Wright and Tiffani Minitel a wonderful flight
of fancy with the styles and colors of the period. It
also allows for light, summery furnishings in Tom Crisp's
effective setting.
Director
K.G. Wilson, a frequent actress with the company, has shaped
the proceedings with the broad, clear strokes necessary to get
across the complex, multi-plotted tale of disguises, mistaken
identities and multiple romances on an outdoor stage the size
of Radio City Music Hall's, making very good use of the space,
and with a blissfully capable and resourceful cast. Lisa
Bostnar, as Olivia understood the humor and meaning of her
every line, and conveyed it flawlessly. A thrill to
watch. Nick Dantos, as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, was much
the same, delighting the audience with almost every turn of
his head. Michael Oberlander created a wonderful blend
of Errol Flynn and Hamlet as the tortured Orsino, and Renée
Bucciarelli as Viola, peering out from her men's clothing, was
the perfect, upright gamin. I thought Herb Downer mad a
great friend in Antonio, Lynn Marie Macy (Maria) was just the
kind of co-conspirator one would want and the four-square
character invented by Vicki Hirsch for the female equivalent
of Malvolio was a masterwork.
Clark Gesner
Brooklyn Heights Press
K.G. Wilson
apparently decided that if there is confusion about sex
identity in Twelfth Night, along with some low humor,
there might as well be more of both. This energetic
director changes several male roles into female ones and often
turns the antics of Sir Toby Belch and his friends into
slapstick. (The one person who always rises above that
level is Lynn Marie Macy as Maria the maid: bawdy, sexy,
smart, as tempting as spiced honey.) This performance
inspires more laughter than most productions. Deborah
Wright Houston as Feste the clown and Karen Eterovich as
Fabienne (not Fabian) are wonderfully funny.
D.J.R. Bruckner
The New York Times |
