NY1 Theater Review: "Twelfth Night"
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Film actress Anne Hathaway leads an all-star cast in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," currently playing at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. NY1's Roma Torre filed the following review. The Shakespeare in the Park productions are historically rocky affairs. The casts are almost always uneven with a blend of celebrity neophytes and solid veterans, mixing styles and skills.
At first glance, you might think the Public Theatre's latest, "Twelfth Night" features all the trappings of a classic misfire, but Daniel Sullivan's wonderful production, even with a mishmash of notable names, gets it just right!
Check out the lineup: film star Anne Hathaway, as the cross-dressing lead Viola, is not only new to Shakespeare, but this also is her first major theatrical production. She shares the spotlight with Tony Award-winners Audra McDonald and Julie White, both of whom are also Shakespeare in the Park newcomers. And then there's Michael Cumpsty and Jay O.Sanders, longtime Shakespeare veterans, and the much-lauded Broadway star Raul Esparza.
With such disparate resumes, you might expect a clash of talents but, incredibly, they all seem to be on the same page, theatrically speaking. And, as for Ms. Hathaway, the lady doth have chops. She does a marvelous job holding her own alongside her far more seasoned co-stars.
Daniel Sullivan's assured staging is impressively straightforward, allowing his actors to speak the speech on an uncluttered set with a modicum of frills.
The setting shifts to early 19th century, but the most notable addition is a troupe of musicians who punctuate the poetry with lyrical interludes – an inspired idea enabling the gifted singers in the company to chime in. Ms. Hathaway, I might add, among them.
Amid all this talent, the scene stealers are the clowns. Led by the comedically-consummate Sanders as the engorged Toby Belch, there's his dimwitted sidekick, Andrew Aguecheek, underplayed hysterically by Hamish Linklater; David Pittu's jester, in fine form and voice; and Julie White's feisty Maria, are quite a hoot. Their foil, the crusty Malvolio is brought to life by the always solid Cumpsty in a deliciously ludicrous wig.
Hats off in fact to all of the wig designs which helped to make this Shakespeare in the Park top-shelf
Nearly three hours long, this is a "Twelfth Night" that passes the time most enjoyably.