“Twelfth Night” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

Somewhat recommended ** “Twelfth Night, An Enhanced Audio Play” is a brand-new accomplishment by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. If you are a Shakespeare buff or are already familiar with the tale, this show will probably work for you. There are many fine and wonderful elements that have been incorporated into this stream-on-demand production. But because it is an audio-only experience, it suffers from having too many characters and too many things going on at the same time, which makes it difficult to successfully follow the plot. It takes a lot of effort to keep everything and everybody straight while taking in the details of the story and the beautiful use of Shakespearean English.

That said, what is most outstanding about this enhanced audio play is the insertion of a unique and modern blend of gospel and soul music, with lyrics frequently taken right out of Shakespeare’s original text. Highest honors for these beautiful and creative melodies and rhythms must go to composer and orchestrator Joriah Kwamé, especially for the lyrics to “Tonight the Theme Is Love” and the additional lyrics and arrangement of “For the Rain” at the end of the show. In addition, director/artistic director Barbara Gaines has provided us with an abridged but flawless script. Shakespeare’s dialogue was shortened throughout without losing any of its original meaning, emphasis, or wording, so as to fit a one-hour and forty-two-minute runtime (with no intermission). The sound design and sound editing by Lindsay Jones is perfection itself. That and musical direction, deftly handled by Roberta Duchak, round out the superb technical execution of this online presentation. Combine that with cast members who handle their lines convincingly with ease and grace, and you have the workings of an outstanding performance. Actors include: Yao Dogbe (Valentine/Sebastian), Cruz Gonzalez-Cade (Maria), Kevin Gudahl (Sir Toby Belch), Timothy Edward Kane (Orsino/Fabian), James Vincent Meredith (Antonio/Captain), Daniel José Molina (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Monica Orozco (Olivia), Lakeisha Renee (Viola), Paul Oakley Stovall (Feste), and Larry Yando (Malvolio).

This romantic comedy of unrequited love and a love triangle is a play on our affections and emotions. Remember that when Shakespeare penned his original, men played women’s parts in the show. Hence during his time, some of the lines were more convincing (and funny) when men inhabited the characters of Olivia, Maria, and especially Viola and altered their voices to suit female roles. Unfortunately, in an audio-only performance, Viola is not convincing as a boy/young man when she has such a decidedly feminine voice.

I appreciate the fact that the actors—who are stellar—have been given the opportunity and space to perform their art during the pandemic. This is a good and useful exercise, considering that the many limitations in the making of this show due to COVID health and safety guidelines. The problem is that some scripts are best performed visually: in-person on stage or recorded as a full-fledged video production. Despite its many excellent components, this audio-only presentation is not satisfying as it stands. Sadly, it is not so simple for the average audience member unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s story to put in the hard and necessary work to imagine all the action and follow exactly what is going on.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s new audio play of Twelfth Night is available as stream-on-demand through Sunday, May 16, 11:59 p.m. (CT) through the ChicagoShakes STREAM website: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/explore_season/twelfthnight.

Digital tickets are $25 per show. All-Access membership for the series of streaming video can be for as little as $100.

For more information about this show, the series, and other shows offered by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, please go to: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/.

Patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing can request a transcript of the show upon request through the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Customer Service Portal: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/about_us/contact_us/customer_service/portal.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com go to Review Round-Up and click at “Twelfth Night”.

Editor Note Understand that each reviewer sees things through their eyes. This is why we have Theatre in Chicago and its website. You can see what everyone sees and then evaluate for your choices.