The last time I saw Twelfth Night was in 1991 at The Playhouse Theatre in London. Doesn't time fly? So it all seemed very fresh to me. English Touring Theatre produce some brilliant stuff, but this wasn't one of them. I felt Jonathon Mumby's production was quite downbeat and sad after the magnificence of Much Ado About Nothing ten days ago at Stratford. Perhaps it's unfair to compare.
The first half felt particularly flat although things do perk up in the second half. The cast is just about OK, but when I say that the stand out performance was from newcomer Rose Reynolds as Viola, you will see what I mean. The "comic" characters of Sir Toby Belch(David Fielder) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Milo Twomey) are passable but not in the same league as the London cast of Dinsdale Landen and Martin Jarvis. Much better was Hugh Ross as Malvolio and he got close to Eric Porter in the London role.
One thing I have to give credit for was the diction and the clarity of the text did shine through. All except Sir Toby when drunk. The mumbling ruined some classic lines. The theatre itself was packed and it was good to see quite a few children there on half term week. It was quite strange going to a matinee, but who could refuse a ticket price of just £10 for seniors.
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