Theater Review: Two River Theater’s ‘Twelfth Night’

By Gretchen Van Benthuysen

The current production of “Twelfth Night” at the Two River Theater is not only the best staging of William Shakespeare’s delightful comedy that I’ve ever seen, it’s among the best staging of any play I’ve ever seen. Definitely top 10.

Trust me. I have spent thousands of hours sitting in the dark over the years in Broadway houses, the West End, regional and community theaters, and this easily could be the 12th time I’ve seen “Twelfth Night.” And before it ends Feb. 2, I plan to see it again with two millennials.

We have director Sara Holdren to thank – nay, worship – for her vision and execution. If I can nominate her for a MacArthur Fellowship (also known as a Genius Grant), I will. Her credits are extensive, especially with Shakespeare, including “The Comedy of Errors” with the Two River Theater’s A Little Shakespeare program for local teens.

The cast of 12 includes the band/theater collective The Lobbyists that provides original music via violin, electric guitars, ukulele, piano, drums and percussion, from Elizabethan tunes to a touch of heavy metal. Yes, really, and it works! It’s pure gold when everything comes together so impressively well – cast, creative team, musicians, crew – that the audience bestowed five rounds of applause in the first act alone, beginning with an amazing thunderstorm that spits out twins Viola (Hannah Rose Caton) and Sebastian (Rudy Roushdi) who are separated by the shipwreck and believe the other is dead.

Finding themselves in Illyria, Viola – for safety – disguises herself as a man named Cesario. She falls in love with Duke Orsino (Joey McIntyre: Broadway, TV, New Kids on the Block), who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia (Kathleen Littlefield: on and Off-Broadway, TV). Upon meeting Cesario/Viola, Olivia is smitten and falls in love.

The real meat in this comedy is provided by Olivia’s uncle Sir Toby Belch (Kurt Rhoads), her steward Malvolio (Richard Hollis), her gentlewoman Maria (Celeste Ciulla) and guest Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Luis Quintero). Their goal is to eat, drink and be merry until Malvolio, who would break before he would bend, gets in their way and the revelers plot to get even by convincing him Olivia loves him.

If this were a TV series, the spin-off would star Toby and Maria married and Aguecheek as the very funny but somewhat annoying single next-door neighbor.

The balance of the cast includes Tommy Crawford as Feste, leader of the band, Carman Lacivita as Antonio, Roushdi as Sebastian, Tony Aidan Vo as Fabian and Will Turner as the sea captain, an officer and a priest.

The creative team includes scenic designer Claire DeLiso, whose rainstorm at the close of the show is magical and mesmerizing. Also, costume designer Fabian Aguilar, lighting designer Caitlin Smith Rapoport, sound designers Kate Marvin and Kathy Ruvuna, hair and wig designer Cookie Jordan and fight director Benjamin Curns.

Don’t miss it. It’s flawless.