Young Vic
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The amount of original Shakespearean text has been significantly pared down so that the main essence of the play is communicated through the really wonderful score. What was so brilliant about the musical element was that it slotted in so easily and the transition between the Shakespearean text and the modern music was in no way jarring. It almost seemed to me as if the play was always written to be performed like this. The songs were so good that I would hands-down listen to them out of the context of watching the play. I do have to say though that I missed the traditional "The Rain it Raineth Every Day".
We are in Illyria in the run up to the Notting Hill Carnival. All the action takes place on the one street and among members of the community. The community setting provides great context for some of the scenes, such as when Sir Andrew Agucheek and Sir Toby Belch drink together, accompanied by some other men outside the pub "The Duke of Illyria" all singing their drinking song. The community in the play is in fact made up of a large chorus of whom none are trained actors, and they all come from local communities. They are key in creating the drama of so many moments, like before the fight between Agucheek and Cesario takes place, they are crowding round and cheering behind the metal barriers. Their perfect execution of the choreography and songs is highly impressive and renders them almost entirely undistinguishable from the professionals. There are a handful of lead members of the chorus who appear every so often to accompany a song or commentate on the latest gossip about the love triangle between Lady Olivia, Duke Orsino and Cesario.
The cast excels and is refreshingly diverse. Gabrielle Brooks as Viola/Cesario does really stand out. Her voice is certainly something special and she gets across all of the contrasting emotions Viola has, her agonising love for Orsino and her bafflement over the fact that Olivia has fallen in love with her alter ego Cesario. She is also given some very powerful lyrics. When mulling over how it is that as a boy she has earned a job and respect from Orsino, and undying attention from Olivia, whereas when she is not in disguise (when people see her as a girl), no one seems to give her a second thought, she asks if getting respect and being given opportunities is "as simple as putting on a pair of pants". This is a question that is as relevant today as it was in the time of original writing.
The musical also has its fair share of comedy sprinkled throughout. However, its main source is a hilarious Gerard Carey as Malvolio. The character is already a comic one, the centre of a cruel prank which involves him acting ridiculously and wearing yellow stockings (here an absurd one piece lycra suit). This musical adaptation really accentuates his comedic character. He patrols the stage on a hover board, head fully covered by a tightly fastened mushroom helmet. Upon receiving the letter supposedly from his mistress, Lady Olivia, he swiftly bursts into a top-hat wearing, cane twirling, tap dancing number as he fantasises about becoming Count Malvolio. He continues to be a comedic presence every time he takes to the stage and he very much steals the show.
This adaptation of Twelfth Night, is full of energy and fun. The set was described by the lady sitting behind me as "the best set I've ever seen". By using music as a way to tell the story, it is completely accessible and so the Shakespearean language should not be a barrier to anyone, not least because the cast perform it as if it is every day speech. The whole musical was expertly created, from the songs that perfectly portray the story, like Melissa Allan's beautiful rendition of Feste's "Is this Not Love?" - a nod to the agony of the three central character's unrequited love, to the choreography. More than this, the rousing sound of a community singing together is something that cannot really be beaten. This production waves a flag of inclusivity and community, and whilst perhaps not maintaining some of the sincerity of Shakespeare's original, it stays true to the plot in a way that is accessible for everyone. Ultimately, it is a great declaration of what the Young Vic stands for. Highly recommended to everyone.