Twelfth Night (or What You Will)
Originally staged to close out the Christmas Holiday season, Twelfth Night (or What You Will) is a light hearted comedy about mistaken identity, love, lust and debauchery. The Last Metro Company gives their first public performances with this wonderful and well loved piece of theatre and certainly starts out their theatre life in LA on a high note.
The production is staged in the very intimate setting of Arthur Murray’s Dance Studio in Sherman Oaks, with next to no set. In a style similar to how Shakespeare himself would have done the play, the costumes are all modern dress, some stylized to suit the characters personalities or professions. The “set” is made up of two ottomans, which are arranged per the needs of the scene. Sometimes they are used to hide behind and other times as a bench, transforming the stage in moment.
Directed by founding company member Frank Astran, the show has all the qualities one wants in a light comedy. The pace is quick, the wit is sharp and the show keeps you entertained. His performers, for the most part, are wonderful. Stand outs include Jake Brown as the incompetent Sir Andrew Aquecheek and his faithful leader in merriment and misadventure, Sir Toby Belch played by Zack Price. Every moment these two are on stage, the audience was rolling with laughter. The beautiful Lovelle Liquigan sets hearts ablaze as the wounded and longing Viola. The struggle of the woman trapped as boy is so simply played and gracefully executed. The only small misstep is with Orsino, played by Christopher Greenwood, who doesn’t find the melancholy power of the love-sick Duke until his very private scene with Viola/Cesario midway through the play, but his charm more than forgives for this.
This intriguing setting, the wonderful passion and love for the written word and desire to entertain makes this company’s first production a very memorable one. If you don’t get a chance to see Twelfth Night due to its limited run, make sure to keep an eye on Last Metro – there is magic in the making with these folks.
Twelfth Night (Or What You Will) is now playing. For more information visit them online at www.lastmetrocompany.com.