Richmond.com Reviews "Twelfth Night"

Who's that knucklehead in the bowling shirt eating popcorn with Frank Creasy? I'm actually starting to get a little uncomfortable with my picture being in these reviews...

"Eating it Up" by Deanna Geneva Lorianni

An excerpt:

Opening to a thoroughly packed audience of all ages at Second Presbyterian Church on Friday night, Richmond Shakespeare Theatre's performance of "Twelfth Night" is one of their best indoor performances yet. Intermixing musical accompaniment (provided mostly by actor and director of training, Andrew Hamm) with lively humor and minimal set design, the company got the whole crowd laughing throughout the entire performance.

And that's no small feat considering the play runs just over two hours and one of the players called in sick. David White (Fight Choreographer) filled in for the two roles usually played by Thomas E. Nowlin, and successfully did so even with script in hand. In fact, it wasn't until the middle of the play when I realized the little book wasn't an intended part of his character.

Comprising five actors, the troupe juggles 15 different roles, which quite often causes an actor to play two different characters in the same scene. Most of the time, their character-swapping works and provides the audience with the chance to see an actor's range of theatrical abilities.

Another reviewer likes the show, but is a bit unfair to Suzanne, who really does a marvelous job in all three of her roles, especially the Officer. At least Ms. Lorianni liked the mannequin, which Susan Haubenstock didn't.

Three shows this weekend, Friday at 8:00, Saturday at 2:00, and Saturday at 8:00. The last two weekends add Thursday 8:00 shows to that schedule. Come out and see what we've been working so hard on! This is also my last time acting for at least several months (music and directing lined up through September).