John Slim - Behind the Arras

"Malvolio shines among the laughs"

Stage2, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, 16th - 19th December 2009

THIS is surely Twelfth Night as never seen before. It has a cast of about 100, a bubbling double act involving Fabian and Feste, and a highly-drilled, very funny Malvolio-and-the-letter scene.

But although it majors on the comedy, Liz Light’s superb production reveals that her youth group has in Alex Butler a Malvolio who can handle both the preening that makes him so amusing and the distraught realisation that the heartless Maria has led Sir Toby and Sir Andrew into making a complete fool of him.

A highlight is his reading of the letter, both because of his reactions to it and because scores of villagers and urchins have joined the two knights of the realm in hiding behind very small standard trees while they listen to him – supplementing their camouflage with evergreen foliage which they hold over their heads and wave in splendid unison while they produce several short shrieks at intervals when they are in danger of being spotted by their victim. The trees themselves are also pretty mobile, conjuring thoughts of Dunsinane on its way to Burnham Wood for anyone who finds time to think between the laughs.

BARMY BEANPOLE

Sir Andrew (Ethan Hudson) is a harmless, barmy beanpole who sprawls his way up a flight of steps, making furtiveness his aim as he tries to listen while Orsino and Viola are conversing at the top. He is a delight in his duel. Sam Hotchin brings Sir Toby – who has his own gang of ten supporters revelling with him in the inn – to a consistently high-decibel and gravelly conversational level that made me worry about his voice for the final night’s performance.

Orsino (Adrian Richards) has the best voice onstage – booming, authoritative, beautifully clear. Ellie Allum-Marshall brings both authority and tenderness to Olivia, and two pairs of dark-framed spectacles help Viola (Océane LiLeDantec) and Sebastian (Abel Graham) as they try to make us believe that nobody can tell the difference between the shipwrecked twins in their adventures with misplaced love.

Neil Gardner is a strong, clear-spoken Antonio and Charlie Reilly is a likeable and spirited Maria – but she should slow down her delivery somewhat in the cause of clarity.

And so to Feste and Fabian (Jonni Dowsett and the diminutive Luca Hoffman). They are an unpredictable, sprightly pairing, right on top of their job, with the engagingly confident Luca earning lots of laughs and sharing show-stealing honours with Alex Butler (Malvolio).

Full marks, also, to the young carol singers who – like the whole production – came from the Victorian era. They gave wings to the interval as well as taking up their tuneful positions outside the theatre both before and after the show.

Slice the production where you like, Stage 2 has done it again. To 19.12.09.

Verdict: *****