Great Lakes Theater’s ‘Twelfth Night’ lets us revel that there will be ‘cakes and ale’

(Photo by Roger Mastroianni)

For those not familiar with the works of William Shakespeare the term “mad cap comedy” would seem to be a strange fit. It is thought that Shakespeare penned a total of approximately 39 works which are classified as either a comedy, tragedy or history play although the exact number and their classifications are even today up for scholarly debate. Regardless, the Bard’s works still live on having been translated into every major living language and still performed around the world these 400+ years later.

One of the most favorite of Shakespeare’s comedies is “Twelfth Night” that was first seen in 1600 and is currently on stage by Great Lakes Theater in the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a rollicking feast of broad laughs but with underpinnings of loss and regret. It is what one would call...a complete play.

Viola (Grayson Heyl) has washed ashore along with the ship’s captain (M.A. Taylor) on the coast of Illyria after surviving a shipwreck. She mourns the loss of her twin brother, Sebastion (Nic Scott Hermick) who has actually survived and believes that Viola has perished. Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and thus enters the service of Duke Orsino (Jeremy Gallardo). The Duke is madly in love with lady Olivia (Angela Utrera) who is in mourning over the death of her brother and will not be allowed to be romanced for seven years. The Duke sends his new hire (Viola-Cesario) to visit Olivia to plead his case of love. Before setting out, Viola is smitten with the Duke. Unfortunately, Olivia falls in love with Viola/Cesario thinking she/he is a he. Thus a love triangle of Viola who lives Orsino who loves Olivia who loves Viola disguised as Cesario is formed. Got that?

Meanwhile, Olivia’s household is hatching a trick. Her uncle Sir Toby Belch (Dar’Jon Marquise Bentley) and his squire Sir Andrew Aguecheek (James Alexander Rankin) have conspired with Olivia’s gentlewoman Maria (Jessie Cope Miller) and Feste (Theo Allyn), Olivia’s hired fool to play a trick on Olivia’s stuffy steward Malvolio (Joe Wegner). It was while Sir Toby and Sir Andrew were on a bender resulting in disturbing the peace of the household that Malvolio chastises the pair. Malvolio is himself overbearingly high minded and a very pompous bit of a twit who believes his farts have no odor.

The four cohorts plant a love letter addressed to Malvolio and signed by Olivia entreating Malvolio to prove his affection by smiling constantly and dressing up in bright yellow socks and cross garters (all of which Olivia detest). So smitten is Malvolio by this ruse he follows the instructions to the letter. The result is being thought mad and locked up for his safety.

While all this is going on, Sebastian (who is dressed identical to his sister Viola) is exploring the island with his friend Antonio (Evan Stevens) who is the sea captain who had rescued Antonio but in the past had fought against Duke Orsino. Antonio is accosted by Duke Orsino’s attendants, Valentine (Boe Wank) and Curio (Evan Stevens) who remember the man for his past transgressions against their boss.

So how does this production stack up? It is absolutely marvelous. Grayson Heyl as Viola is perfectly cast as Viola/Cesario. She really does quite resemble Nic Scott Hermick as Sebastian. Jeremy Gallardo as the love struck and pining Duke Orsino pulls out all the stops. The partners in crime of Dar’Jon Marquise Bentley as Sir Toby Belch, James Alexander Rankin as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Jessie Cope Miller as Maria and Theo Allyn as Feste are an absolute delight. Of special note is James Alexander Rankin’s hairdo and costume that by themselves brought laughter from the audience. Theo Allyn’s wonderfully sweet singing voice was a delightful surprise as well.

The set design by Courtney O’Neill (repurposed from the recent production of “Peter and the Star Catchers”) makes use of elaborate lighting by Rick Martin to give undulating textures of surf and sand. Mieka van der Ploeg is given free reign with serious costumes for some and diabolically silly dress for others and in the case of the character Malvolio half and half.

For those not familiar with live performances of Shakespeare, this would be a perfect “first play” to attend. The middle English dialogue is quite easy to follow, the comedy broad enough to comprehend and the main themes simple to learn from. Come see what all the fuss has been about for over 400 years.

The Great Lakes Theater production of “Twelfth Night” will be on stage at the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio through April 6, 2025. for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.greatlakestheater.org/ or call (216) 241-6000.