“Twelfth Night” is one of Shakespeare’s richest, most complex comedies, full of equal measures of laughter and sadness. Happily, the new Shakespeare Company’s production brings out all the depth and breadth of “Twelfth Night” in a production as visually stunning as it is verbally intense.
Directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman, this “Twelfth Night” begins with one of its main characters falling slowly through a blue-green abyss, representing the sea. It is Viola, lost in a storm, cast up in a strange land. Believing her twin brother Sebastian to have drowned, she dresses in his clothes and becomes a servant to Duke Orsino.
The beautiful Countess Olivia is also in mourning for her brother. Her grief is so deep, she will not hear Orsino’s entreaties of love. There are many delightful features of this production, but one of its chief accomplishments is that it so beautifully displays the ability of love to turn the world from a dark and mournful place to one full of light and color.
Set designer Ricardo Hernandez is largely responsible for that alteration: The stage walls are covered with bright red roses, and whenever a character falls in love (which happens with great regularity) red rose petals fall from the ceiling. At the back of the stage there is a curved structure — no hard angles in this production — that is silver-gray throughout the first act, then turns crimson in the second.
The alteration from a world of rigidity to a world transformed by love is also demonstrated by Miranda Hoffman’s costumes. In Act I, Olivia and her attendants all wear stiff, black, Victorian-style dresses. In Act II, when she has fallen in love, Olivia wears a series of strapless, brightly-colored chiffon gowns.
The entire company in this “Twelfth Night” is top-notch, particularly Samantha Soule as Viola, Cristopher Innvar as Duke Orsino, Veanne Cox as Olivia and Floyd King as Feste. “Twelfth Night” contains some marvelous songs. This production adds six musicians who provide charming new music-including tangos — and songs written by Martin Desjardins, beautifully sung by Stacey Cabaj.
If you go
“Twelfth Night”
Where: The Shakespeare Theatre, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday (except Dec. 25); 7:30 p.m. Sunday (except Dec. 21); 2 p.m. Saturday to Sunday; noon matinee Dec. 31; through Jan. 4
Info: $23.50 to $79.75, discounts available; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
