By Pat Launer
It’s 1949 at “an iconic resort hotel on the beach” that looks suspiciously like the Hotel Del Coronado. The piano player in the sumptuous lobby is something of a joker, who’s overly fond of a song that goes, “If music be the food of love, play on.”
That happens to be the opening line of Shakespeare’s cross-dressing comedy, “Twelfth Night,” and a giddy, frothy evening it is at Lamb’s Players Theatre, celebrating its 20th year on the island.
The ensemble of high-profile local actors is outstanding, and director Robert Smyth gives them some side-splitting stage business. He’s right in there with them, as the drunken reveler Sir Toby Belch, who cavorts with hare-brained Sir Andrew Aguecheek (deliciously played by an amusingly wigged Brian Mackey, who sports the hilariously blank-eyed look of a dullard).
In this tale of shipwrecked twins, the male-female pair have never looked so perfectly identical. Caitie Grady, who is marvelous throughout, transforms herself in in a wink from lovely, marooned heiress Viola into the brazen youth Cesaria, borrowing from her lost brother’s looks for her new identity, mustache and all. It’s such an effective disguise that it fools the grieving hotelier, Olivia (a capricious, fluttery Christy Yael-Cox), whom Cesaria is wooing on behalf of her new employer, the base captain, “Duke” (a commanding and funny turn by Jason Maddy).
Duke and his musical aides wear crisp Navy whites. The underlings (Jesse Abeel and Jacob Caltrider) execute excellent harmonies with that kibitzing pianist, the jester, Feste (well played, instrumentally and dramatically, by Cris O’Bryon). Cynthia Gerber is the sprightly, scheming wench, Maria, who gets even with haughty Malvolio, the hotel manager (pitch-perfect Brian Rickel), convincing him that Olivia loves him, and urging him, through a deftly forged letter, to dress and act like an imbecile. His dark threat of revenge at the end barely registers, since the whole proceedings – sunny set and lighting (Mike Buckley), colorful costumes (Jeanne Barnes Reith), original music (Jon Lorenz) and performances are so resolutely light-hearted and effervescent.
This is a “Twelfth Night” for the whole family – fun, funny, completely comprehensible and thoroughly delightful.
- “Twelfth Night” runs through July 6 at Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado.
- Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m., Wednesday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Tickets ($18-68) are available at 619-437-6000 or online at www.lambsplayers.org
Pat Launer is a long-time San Diego arts writer and an Emmy Award-winning theater critic. An archive of her previews and reviews can be found at www.patteproductions.com.
