Twelfth Night
Sep. 28th, 2011 12:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magidLast night I ushered for ASP's first production of the year, Twelfth Night, in one of the smaller theaters in the BCA complex. I was not at all surprised to see that they'd arranged the space differently than I'd ever seen it before, diagonalizing the stage area, taking out one side of seats in favor of what wasn't a skateboarding quarter pipe, but closer to that than anything else, having a small sandy area, and an in-floor trough of water most of the way across the stage (parallel to the back). The quarter pipe was painted blue-green and black, irregularly, and used as the initial storm, as well as a slide for some scenes (the coloring was picket up in Sebastian/Claudio's lower trouser legs, when the rest of their outfits were white suits; subtle yet nicely done), which was a lot of fun. The sands were used mostly by Malvolio (played more sensually than I've seen before), and as a 'sands through the hourglass' effect (which generated a light cloud of dust, making me nostalgic for the playa), as well as a place to bury a shoe for a while. The water was used in a number of ways by the actors, and gave and excuse for the water sounds at the beginning and end of the show. I particularly liked how the moving water cast light up in random patterns nearby (oh, and there were some seats back to the side near the trough, in the splash zone; there were towels nearby but I don't think they were ever needed).
The set was pretty much bare otherwise, and other than some jewelry and musical instruments, there weren't many props, either. Though I'm not sure that musical instruments can be called props if they're used to make music.... (a guitar, a flute, a recorder, a hand drum, and a lute were used at various times, to good effect).
I really enjoyed the humor throughout the play; it's a great production, though as usual, it felt quite pat at the end. Still, the incarceration of Malvolio felt less disproportionate, given how he was played (and, oh! the yellow cross garters were impressive!). My major quibble was with how they'd chosen to play the twins. Even though there were two actors used, until the duels, whenever Sebastian was played, the two actors were sort of merged to be him, which I thought distracting rather than enhancing. Otherwise, it was tone perfect, with all the plots and subplots working out so nicely (I did find myself sorrier for Sir Andrew Aguecheek than usual).
I hadn't been paying attention when I signed up to usher: last night was the first night (not opening night, which I think may be Friday); the show is running until late October, and well worth seeing.
The set was pretty much bare otherwise, and other than some jewelry and musical instruments, there weren't many props, either. Though I'm not sure that musical instruments can be called props if they're used to make music.... (a guitar, a flute, a recorder, a hand drum, and a lute were used at various times, to good effect).
I really enjoyed the humor throughout the play; it's a great production, though as usual, it felt quite pat at the end. Still, the incarceration of Malvolio felt less disproportionate, given how he was played (and, oh! the yellow cross garters were impressive!). My major quibble was with how they'd chosen to play the twins. Even though there were two actors used, until the duels, whenever Sebastian was played, the two actors were sort of merged to be him, which I thought distracting rather than enhancing. Otherwise, it was tone perfect, with all the plots and subplots working out so nicely (I did find myself sorrier for Sir Andrew Aguecheek than usual).
I hadn't been paying attention when I signed up to usher: last night was the first night (not opening night, which I think may be Friday); the show is running until late October, and well worth seeing.