THEATREWORLD INTERNET MAGAZINE

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      Donald Fathers (Southern Regioal Reviewer)

TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare

Directed by Gerard Gould for City of Oxford Theatre Guild

Playing from 4th July to15th July 2000

NEW COLLEGE GARDENS, OXFORD

A gentle start to this happy play. The cast warm up the expectant audience with a musical treat, and before you know it we are all playing Agony Aunts to Orsino and Viola. Orsino thinks he is in love with Olivia, but he has yet to meet Viola. So it's once more into the breeches for Viola as she falls for Orsino! And so it goes, a merry tale told well by this excellent cast.

Told in spite of extraneous sound effects, wind in the trees, bells and at one time a passing hit squad from the Bill - on their way to a hole in the wall I've no doubt! Playing in such a beautiful garden setting calls for enhanced delivery, and deliver they did. It is a feature of this production that with not a single rant in earshot we were able to hear and understand the story.

Director Gerard Gould tells us that there are no "starry" parts amongst the principle characters. True, but just as the play's subtitle 'What You Will' invites the audience to make what they will of the plot, so the players will make what they will of their parts. I am ever struck by the incredible energy that Kerry Elkins brings to every part she plays. As Maria she hurtles around the turf, sure footed and sure tongued, supplying pace enough to please any Director.

I particularly liked Nick Quartley as Malvolio. He gave the character a depth, a vulnerability, which took away a little of the simple foolery but brought in return a greater understanding of the pain he felt on being set-up. The Fool proper, Feste, was excellently played by Dominic Oliver. He charmed us with his singing, as did Fred Davis with his instrumental contribution.

Yet more fooling from John O'Connor, Rob Reynolds and Bill Moulford as Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Fabian. Limp scabbards, slipping wigs and a super non-threatening sword and dagger fight (choreographed by Nicholas Rawlinson) provided a fun diversion from the agonies of the lovers.

In the midst of all this knockabout and foolery the four lovers have to get themselves sorted. Would you believe it, this doesn't happen till the end of the play! It might have happened earlier if Viola, played beautifully by Abbey Wright, hadn't opted to pass herself off as a fellow. Josh Howard-Saunders, an impressive and entertaining Orsino, is taken in by this flimsy pretence and employs Viola (now Cesario) in his campaign to win Olivia. Viola's budget driven gender swap is achieved by hiding her long hair under a cap. Handicapped (sorry!) by this disguise she fails to win Orsino with whom she has become besotted. Instead, she becomes the object of desire of a besotted Olivia. All three are saved from counselling by the arrival of Sebastian the twin brother of Viola (wearing an identical cap but closely resembling a Mr Frazz Jarvis). Olivia, not spotting the difference, luckily settles for the right twin. Orsino catches up on the story and gets Viola. And; as at the beginning, before you know it some beautiful ensemble singing led by Feste launches us into the night.

The darkness came as something of a surprise for we had been led to sense it was still daylight by the very believable lighting design. Costumed by Betty and Sheila Robbins and lit by Steve Whitaker this production will compare favorably with any of this summer's garden productions.

The City of Oxford Theatre Guild's tradition of top quality Shakespeare in the best of College gardens is alive and well.

Reviewed for Theatreworld Internet Magazine by Don Fathers 4/7/2000

   TWELTH NIGHT:

   NEW COLLEGE GARDEN

A CHILLY evening with more than a hint of rain, a lot of pollen in the air and the threat of biting insects – this was the first night of the City of Oxford Theatre Guild’s production of Twelfth Night in the garden of New College, where it runs until 15 July. But audiences who flock to ‘summer’ Shakespeare are a hardy lot, and with blankets for hire at £1 a go thoughtfully provided by the organisers and spiced wine available in the interval, we all had a thoroughly good time.

Under Gerard Gould’s direction, this is a Twelfth Night in traditional style, set in an intimate corner of the garden which is well endowed with trees to help the wicked purposes of Sir Toby Belch and friends. In the absence of staging, a creative use of music and costume results in a pleasantly harmonious and unified production, which begins and ends with the whole cast joining in singing Feste’s songs. Quite apart from their other strengths, these actors would make a very acceptable choral group.

Nick Quartley turns in a masterly performance as the lavishly cross-gartered Malvolio. He dose not arouse any sympathy but neither is he a true figure of fun – perhaps his overarticulated vowels are too close to home for that – and even when bound and blindfolded he never quite loses his dignity.

With the actors on the first night undeterred by chiming clocks, passing sirens and shrieking revellers on the other side of the wall, the City of Oxford Theatre Guild is set to notch up yet another success with this, its 46^th consecutive production of summer Shakespeare.