City Lit's 'Twelfth Night' is a Well-Woven Yet Dazed Dream

City Lit's first venture into the world of the Bard is a gorgeously produced, pioneering undertaking for the almost 30-year old company.Twelfth Night, currently playing at the theatre's historic Edgewater Presbyterian Church location, has the tendency to get a bit long-winded at times but overall the production offers energized actors, beautiful scenery and lighting and a dream-like telling of Shakespeare's classic. Whose dream this is remains unknown after viewing but it is a dream full of color and life none the less.

Following the story of a ship-wrecked brother and sister, Twelfth Night takes us on a comedic ride of mistaken identity, plotting lovers and happy endings for most, the usual Shakespeare comedy fare. This is one of Shakespeare's longer comedies and for a modern audience the subplots can become a bit overbearing and make us wonder whose story this really is.

The set, compiled of white curtains and dangling picture frames lends itself to a dream-like and timeless telling of this story. Set changes are denoted by the changing of color on these white curtains which works very effectively. The overall concept of this piece is seemingly clear upon initial viewing, but we as an audience wait and wait for some sort of reasoning as to why the piece is so without a time or clear place, and unfortunately are left with nothing but a happy ending of four lovers and no real insight into director Jay Paul Skelton's envisioning of this piece.

Vanessa Greenway is a powerful and dynamic force as the voluptuous Olivia, going from stone-cold maid to naughty vixen. Frank Nall as the ever-drunk Toby Belch is charming and funny but sometimes reads as a one-note lush. Tiffany Joy Ross is cute as the cross-dressing Viola/ Cessario and has a strong grasp with the language of Shakespeare, but this sometimes gets in the way of allowing herself emotional connections with other actors.  Nick Lake brings a youthful and dorky innocence to the romantic Sir Andrew.  Julian Martinez lacks some of the charm and vocal range required for loving the town-crooner and clown, Feste. The rest of the ensemble works well together and Skelton's staging and directing is clear but not overbearing, and it is exciting in some of the more physical, dance-like staging.

For those who love the words of Billy Shakespeare and do not mind an almost non-cut  two and half hour, Shakespeare experience, I very much recommend this production of Twelfth Night. Aside from a lack of clarity with concept, this production as a whole was a treat to the eye and ear.

Twelfth Night will play Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM, January11th through February 24. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by going to www.citylit.org   or by calling 773.293.3682.