Review: "Twelfth Night" - Janus Theatre, Elgin IL Ends 8/27

See this show!  Run, don't walk to your nearest phone!  OK, these days it's really just a matter of reaching into your pocket.  Just do it.  Dial  847-841-1713 and reserve your tickets to see the best theatre I've witnessed in many, many months.  For more information, including directions to the theatre, go here.


This show is running in repertory with The Importance Of Being Earnest.  Both are being done by Janus Theatre.  I wasn't the biggest fan of the Wilde production, but I urge you to see Twelfth Night.  I'll wait until you have your ticket.


Got it?  Good.  OK, here's what you're going to see:

• A show that has great respect for the audience.  The actors are driven to connect and communicate, and do a damn fine job of it.  Director Sean Hargadon has altered, edited and re-imagined Shakespeare's work to make it pithy, direct and accessible to everyone.  This is not your father's Shakespeare.  It's better.  From the directors notes in the program, Hargadon says, "One thing is for sure, I have taken some liberties with the text in order to present a version of the play that attempts to streamline the story, heighten the comedy and provide some unexpected dramatic moments.  No doubt there will be those who say this is not true to the playwright."  He goes on to say, "The primary goal is to create an experience that is new and unexpected rather than another rehash of a classic that we all should dutifully watch as if we were in church.  Hopefully some of our choices land with the audience. The point of playing is for them after all."  My sentiments exactly.  Theatre companies and productions are there to serve the audience.  Otherwise, why do it?
• One of the finest acting ensembles I've ever encountered.  And for anyone who has been confused by the "seeing the acting rather than the result of the acting" discussion and how it applies to honesty of performance, here is the perfect example of actors being their characters rather than acting their characters.
• Marvelous pacing driving the story forward.  No lulls in the action and tremendous timing by the cast.  A masterpiece of the craft of acting.

On the off-chance that you don't know the story of Twelfth Night or As You Will, please go here and learn more than you need to know.  As I mentioned, it is a true ensemble piece, but there were several performances that stayed with me after I left the theatre.  Liz Vanderhoof does an extraordinary job as Viola, who makes a seamless transformation into the squire Cesario.  Kathleen Donoghue and Sarafina Vecchio displayed great comic timing as Olivia and her maid, Maria.  Chris Bibby is absolutely delightful as Sir Toby Belch and Tyler Thompson rocks the room as the fool, Feste.  The rest of the cast is fully committed to the show, delivering great turns and leave it all out on the stage for us to admire and drink in.  Nary a false note from this group who gave us complete honesty

Usually, I can go on for pages, but this time, the performance speaks for itself.  See this show and experience just how good local theatre can be.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Really?  After all that, you need to ask?

Running time:  100 minutes, with intermission.  And they will be the best 100 minutes of theatre you're likely to see in a long time.