Taking my seat at the Network Theatre to watch Gavin McAlinden’s adaptation of Twelfth Night, as the cast hollered and threw disco fingers on stage, I could tell I was about to get into: a cheesy, 1970s disco-influenced bundle wrapped up in Shakespearean text. The stage is kept simple and consistent throughout, with a silver backdrop, a bar draped in red streamers, and a coral alcohol shelf – a staple 16th-century furnishing.
Helen Probert as Malvolio and Aryan Chavda and Karl Stefan Hall as the drunken duo Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek bring a level of enthusiasm and humour to their characters that make it both a memorable and beautifully bonkers performance. Prilly Lee plays Olivia with charisma, passion, and conviction – an undeniable acting talent.
While these performances worked to elevate this adaptation, I found some of the cast’s dialogue quite difficult to hear due to a lack of enunciation and projection on stage. This made it a little hard to follow the play, if you aren’t already familiar with the storyline.
I found Feste’s solos somewhat awkward and redundant, though Lina is clearly a talented performer and certainly shines on stage. The only time I found that any of the solos truly added something to the scene is Malvolio serenading Olivia with On Top of the World while donning bright yellow stockings and a garter. Rest in peace William Shakespeare, you would have loved The Carpenters.
Other notable performances come from Nieve Hearity as Maria, the unruly prankster who serves Olivia; Caitlin Plummer, who brings a calm vulnerability to Viola which makes her incredibly likeable; Tom Hilton as the level-headed Sebastian; and Charles Worthington as the cheerful Duke, Orsino.
I wasn’t blown away by this adaptation, but it is entertaining at times, has a great mix of Shakespearean tongue and 1970s tunes, and, if you’re lucky like I was, you’ll get audience members around you shimmying their way through the music at the scene changes, resulting in a slightly chaotic, but comical evening.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
