Photo Credit: Bill Jackson – Red Rose Chain Cast of Twelfth Night
The Red Rose Chain Theatre in the Forest once again dazzles with incredible humour, wonderful characterisation and a sense that Shakespeare really can be accessible to everyone — which it can when handled by such a terrific and expert cast.
Twelfth Night is an absolute romp of glorious comedy, packed with misunderstandings, mistaken identities, unrequited love and drunken reveries. I loved seeing people of all ages come to experience the magic of Shakespeare in the forest, with one of his funniest and naughtiest plays.
Twins Viola and Sebastian believe the other has drowned in a shipwreck. When Viola washes up in Illyria, she disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, and takes work with Count Orsino. Georgia Redgrave plays Viola with impish charm as she spars with Olivia while looking longingly at her master.
Darren Latham is suitably lovesick as Orsino and, when doubling as the foppish Sir Andrew Aguecheek, his performance reminded me of a mash-up of Neil, Rik and Viv from The Young Ones, which was very funny.
Photo Credit: Bill Jackson – Nadia Jackson as Olivia and Vincent Moisy as Malvolio
Nadia Jackson plays the object of Orsino’s affections, Countess Olivia, initially weeping and mourning the death of her brother. She soon snaps out of her grief when she spies Cesario, flirting both outrageously and coquettishly with him, unaware that he is actually a woman.
Emily Jane Kerr is a riot as the debauched Sir Toby Belch, who leads the crowd in some hilariously drunken singing. It was always a treat whenever she was on stage.
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew spend much of the play in cahoots with Maria, Olivia’s maid, played by Joseph Russell with camp perfection, and he also appears as Sebastian. The quartet of pranksters is completed by Feste, the fool, played superbly by Alec Murray. The fool is often the wisest character, and the clever use of turning some of his witticisms into song helped enormously. In fact, music was prevalent throughout, adding to the accessibility of both the language and the story — something Red Rose Chain is so good at doing.
The person they play the biggest prank on is Olivia’s faithful manservant, Malvolio, played by Vincent Moisy. This is a gift of a part, and Vincent was suitably pompous one minute, with tones of Toast of London in his delivery, and then seemingly insane with love: yellow-stockinged, cross-gartered and grinning manically.
Photo Credit: Bill Jackson – Vincent Moisy as Malvolio, Darren latham as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Alec Murray as Feste and Emily Jane Kerr as Sir Toby Belch
This was always going to be an emotional production, following the sad death earlier this year of Red Rose Chain’s founder and artistic director, Joanna Carrick. The show was co-directed by David Newborn and Katy Latham, using Jo’s adaptation from her 2011 production and her unique style.
I had the privilege of knowing Joanna since I was 13 and she was 15, and I admit I felt choked up knowing that I was watching a Theatre in the Forest production, but she wouldn’t be there to show me to my seat and give me a hug. As the sun went down on a balmy summer evening and the fireflies danced in the air, I felt she was with us and was feeling incredibly proud of her tremendous cast.
I know I feel proud that I knew her, and of the amazing legacy she has left behind.
The Red Rose Chain is in safe hands.
Twelfth Night continues until 22nd August – for details of dates, times and tickets visit the Red Rose Chain website
Tickets: Full price: £33 | Over 65: £28 | Under 16s: £13.12 | Concessions*: £15
*Concessions are full-time students, people with disabilities or in receipt of benefits/pension credits
Family ticket offer: (2 full price, 2 under 16 concessions) £76.12
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