“Twelfth Night”

“Twelfth Night” is a love story and another story dealing with mistaken identity.  It also deals with love. Not only love between two people but love of a community and family. For this particular production, director Tyrone Phillips has added a Jamaican flavor by moving the setting into what appears to be Caribbean. The story deals with twins that become separated and in this particular production, the twins are a male and female . Viola ( well played by Jaeda LaVonne) thinks that during the storm she has lost her brother Sebastian ( deftly handled by Justen Ross). She assumes a male character, Cesario and starts her new life. Cesario is hired by the Duke, Orsino ( a solid performance by Yao Dogbe) and finds herself mixed into a life that may be filled with problems.

Cesario is asked by Orsino to meet with his love, Olivia ( played to perfection by Christiana Clark) and express his affection for her. Instead Olivia finds herself falling in love with Cesario ( not knowing that she is in fact Viola). I told you that this story involved mistaken identities. Later on the twins will meet again and the town will see things they have never witnessed before.

There are some other amazing characters in this play and actors who shine in building these characters. Malvolio (Olivia’s Steward) is played with just the right touch by Paul Oakley Stovall. He works the audience to perfection as he does his thing. Be prepared to have fun during his scenes and those that include the hilarious Alex Goodrich as Sir Andrew Aguecheek. He is a stitch.

As I say on a regular basis, the ensemble players are quite important in a play, in some cases playing smaller roles and in others playing roles that bring the story together. This cast is powerful: Shelby Lynn Bias, Ronald L. Conner, Naphtali Curry, Danielle Davis, Israel Erron Ford, Arielle Leverett, Roberto Mantica and  Adam Poss- this production works because of your timing and your ability to keep the action alive.

The technical aspects of this production make it work. Sydney Lynne’s set in the open Courtyard Theatre allows the movement from scene to scene and the costumes by Christine Pascual are sheer perfection. The lighting (Xavier Pierce) and sound (Willow James) work and the projections by Mike Tutaj are marvelous. The musical direction by Robert Reddrick is right on and the movement direction by Sadira Muhammad keeps the flow on target allowing the play to run less that two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.

If you have been afraid to visit Navy Pier and witness a Shakespeare play, you can end that right now. You will not even think of “The Bard” when watching this shining story being told. Trust me. It is worth the trip and you will treasure the experience.