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Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: A 70s Folk Nightmare
18 Oct
Summary
- Mathew Horne's Malvolio is a proud man undone by yellow stockings.
- A haunting, folk-like score evokes a dream-like uncertainty.
- The production balances comic confusion with dream-like instability.
Mathew Horne embodies Malvolio with a striking self-satisfaction, his meticulous portrayal capturing the character's essence before his comedic downfall. The iconic yellow-stockinged disgrace unfolds with potent humor, highlighting the arriviste's indignant reaction to being brought down to size. This performance offers a journey from pompousness to bruised, yet unrepentant, indignation.
Complementing the performances, Genevieve Dawson's live score, played on clarinet, guitar, and violin, provides a haunting, folk-club earthiness with a 1970s vibe. Feste, portrayed by David Birrell, transcends the traditional fool, acting more as a wise troubadour whose songs introduce a note of uncertainty into the play's romantic entanglements.
Director Jamie Glover's production, utilizing a stark circular set, imbues Shakespeare's language with energy and clarity. The actors skillfully build the narrative tension in the first half to release the comedic elements in the second. The play's exploration of status, appearance, and deception is vividly realized through characters like Viola, disguised as Cesario, and Olivia, navigating courtly expectations against her desires.
