After 400 years the brilliance of Shakespeare is still entertaining audiences around the world .This popular and complex comedy is staged outdoors and conveys the simplicity of the staging used in Shakespeare’s times .Twelfth night directed by Keith A. Anderson is full of gender ambiguity, romantic confusion and is wonderfully witty! The use of Shakespeare’s language is highly entertaining even though it is not staged for an Elizabethan audience. William Shakespeare wrote “Twelfth Night” in 1601. The company presented an electrifying production of the beloved comedy, the cast wrestled great moments of humor, romance and even joy from the story.

“Twelfth Night” centers on the courtly machinations of Allyria as suitors vie for the fair Olivia (Renee Gandola). She is in mourning after the death of her brother. There are survivors from the shipwreck, including Viola (Jennifer Goff), who travels to Allyria doing an excellent job disguised as a man. She believes her twin brother, Sebastian, has been lost at sea. In Allyria, Viola is caught in the court’s web of love, she falls for the charming duke (Jeffrey Lippold) who orders her still disguised as a man to be the go-between in his courting of Olivia. By the middle of the second act, a complex triangle has formed: Viola loves the duke, the duke loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario, the “man” Viola is disguised as. To add to the confusion, several people in the court hatch a plan to get back at Malvolio (Martin M. White), the steward of Olivia’s household. They scheme to convince him that Olivia is madly in love with him.

“Twelfth Night” spins through mistaken identities and the flowering of true love until all is settled at play’s end, mixing high romance and low comedy at every turn. The romantics get the Duke’s heartsick opening speech and Viola’s realization that she loves the Duke and that Olivia loves her disguised as Cesario. The low-brow antics of the fool Feste (BobMutch), the suitor Sir Andrew Agucheek (Terence J. Burke) and the aptly named Sir Toby Belch (John Bridges) are great at providing the bulk of the humor. The comic center point is the plot against the pompous Malvolio. They trick him with a letter that Olivia loves him and that the way to finally win her heart is to always smile and come to her dressed in yellow clothing – both of which Olivia hates. The moment that Malvolio enters, dressed in a preposterous yellow outfit and wearing the most insincere smile imaginable, is priceless. Plenty of credit here to the costumer who does excellent work through­out the show as well.

Confusion with love and identity are key to the show, with many fine moments and speeches presented throughout the evening. The best comes at the end, as Viola is able to kiss the man she loves. The audience’s reaction, a sort of satisfied gasp, was one of the evening’s great highlights.

It’s tough to single out actors in such a fine and impressive cast, all did excellent work. Martin M. White brought the pompous Malvolio to life, while the comic quartet kept the audience in stitches throughout the evening. This show is a must see for those who love Shakespeare, best of all it is free and sitting outside under the stars enjoying the cool breezes of the bay was wonderful.

Twellfth Night is the last show at the old WWII Waves barracks that has been the home of the Coronado Playhouse for over 50 years. The Playhouse just celebrated its 57th anniversary. The building is being demolished in September to make way for a park between the new city hall and the Coronado Community Center, all part of the Glorietta Bay project. The city administration estimates that the new theatre facility that will be the home of the Coronado Playhouse will be built by November 2004, so the 2005 season should be in the new theatre.

The Show runs thru to Aug 24.

Review: Sylvia Bendelstein ( The J*Company)

Cast:

Bob Mutch -Feste, Olivia's jester

Jennifer Goff- Viola (Cesario), shipwrecked lady of Messaline, Sebastian's twin

William Savage- Sea Captain,friendly captain who who befriends Viola

Jeffrey Lippold- Orsino, Duke of Illyria and suitor to Olivia

Claire White- Valentine, Gentlewoman in charge of Orsino's house

John Bridges -Sir Toby, Olivia's disreputable uncle

Meghan Burchartz - Maria, Olivia's waiting gentlewoman

Terence J. Burke -Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a knight courting Olivia

Brian Taraz -Fabian, a servant in Olivia's household

Martin M. White -Malvolio, steward to Olivia

Renee Gándola- Olivia, an Illyrian countess in mourning for her dead brother

Frank Godinez -Sebastian, shipwrecked twin to Viola

Marcus Allen Correia- Antonio, a sea captain who saves Sebastian

Chris Connolly and Kent Gándola-Officers

William Savage-Priest

Rafe Gándola, Maelyn Gándola -Other Servants