The Clowns steal the show
in this delightful staging of a favorite Shakespearean comedy. Starting at the
opening, with David Melville as one-man-band Feste the Jester admonishing the
audience to get with it, the tone is
set for irreverent and audacious humor. This is boldly carried forward by Danny
Campbell as a W.C. Fields-inspired Sir Toby Belch; Andre Martin as the foppish suitor
Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and finally Luis Galindo as the pompous steward Malvolio
making a complete ass of himself. As the witty prankster Maria, Bernadette
Sullivan sets light to all the ongoing mischief.
The main story of the
shipwrecked Viola (Kalean Ung), in boy’s garb, winning the love of the grieving
Olivia (Claudia de Vasco), while hopelessly in love with the romanticist Count
Orsino (Ryan Vincent Anderson) is well told. Noteworthy are Julia Aks as a
melodic housemaid; Nikhil Pai as the missing twin Sebastian; Ashley Nguyen as a
guitar-playing maid, and Joseph Culliton as the beleaguered sea captain
Antonio. Juan Parada amusingly doubles as burdened seaman and jolly priest.
Directed with joyful
energy by Melissa Chalsma, Co-Artistic Director of the Independent Shakespeare Company.
Will play in repertory with “The Taming Of The Shrew” through August 31.
The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare
Festival is at the Old Zoo in the Park,
on Crystal Springs Drive. For info call (818) 710-6306 or go online to www.iscla.org.
Note:
No public transport but plenty of free
parking. Bring a chair or a blanket, wear walking shoes, and for an evening
show bring along a warm jacket and a flashlight.
Photos: Grettel Cortes.
Also reviewed in the August issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY
Also reviewed in the August issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY
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