Midsummer Madness: Twelfth Night

                It's been said that everything you need know about life may be found in the writings of William Shakespeare. There's truth in this, as many of our most famed sayings find their roots in the works of the Bard..."some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them," "Out of the jaws of death," for instance.

                These quotes may be found in Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night or What You Will," though you won't find reference to the title anywhere in the play.

                As Wikipedia explains, "Twelfth Night" referred to the last day of a winter festival when "the Lord of Misrule" symbolized "the world turning upside down...the King and all those who were high would become peasants and vice versa."

                The world is literally turned on its head and there is much that is "upside down" in this play.

                It's a Shakespeare comedy, so you know there's going to be mistaken identity, mistaken intentions, sexual role reversal (in this case, a woman, Viola {Jennifer Mikulski}, dressed as a man), unrequited love, love lost at the same moment love's won...classic Shakespeare.

                So, you know the play's good. The only thing left to question is...how're The Players?

                I don't think the Bard would complain.

                Director Phil Gallagher gets top drawer performances out of the cast including such Spotlighters favorites as Frank Vince as the popinjay Malvolio (another example of topsy turvy nature of the play as the servant Malvolio sees himself a lord), Gallagher himself as the practical joking, wine-loving Sir Toby, Mike Dolan as the feather-fan flying fop, Sir Andrew; Ian Bonds as the fool, Feste (who, of course, speaks the most wisdom of any character in the play) and the perfectly cast Mikulski as Viola, the woman who passes for a man in the court of Duke Orsino (Michael Leicht).

                Now in its 49^th season, the Spotlighters is particularly adroit in utilizing its limited space and "Twelfth Night" is no exception.  The play opens with brother and sister Sebastian (RoBert Scott Hitcho) and Viola tossed about and apart by the waves of a terrible storm. How does one create a roiling sea in on a postage-stampish size stage? Quite well, actually--four actors held two long swathes of silk which they pulled and billowed while flashes of light and appropriate sound effects perfected the illusion.

                Costumer Helenmary Ball ensured that the cast had just the right medieval-Renaissance style look--satin and jewels for the ladies, Three-Musketeerish boots and swords for the men...and if you're a fan of curly wigs, there's plenty of them (though I did the copper-wire-red wig on actor John Compher's sea captain a bit offputting since Mr. Compher sports a real-life white beard!).

                "Twelfth Night" is a play full of "vinegar and pepper," as Sir Andrew says, and considerable irony, though not all intentional;  Viola speaks of memory but actor Mikulski stumbles over the line as she struggles to recall the bit of iambic pentameter.  Shakespeare would still approve; tis an error which befits the play. As the Countess Olivia (Karina Ferry) remarks of her befuddled steward, Malvolio, it's all just a bit of "midsummer madness," two hours and 45 minutes worth that you will not want to miss.

                "Twelfth Night" continues its run at The Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul Street, now through November 14^th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. with one Thursday performance, Nov. 11^th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors, $16 students (non-members). Call 410-752-1225 or visit www.spotlighters.org.

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