Poor old Malvolio. In the comical romance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, he is an arrogant butler who gets cruelly pranked for sport, and is tricked by a band of wise Alec into forging a love letter supposedly addressed to him.
Believing that the letter was from the countess he admired and that he was following her wishes, he dressed in gaudy clothes with yellow stockings with crossed garters, as if he had been set free. behave. He is then trapped in darkness, where his tormentors continue to confuse his mind.
It’s a kind of stinking spite, but playwright Betty Shammy has turned it into a heroic origin story in her clever, winking new play, Malvolio. And after last July’s “Twelfth Night,” which delivered rapturous delight, the Harlem Classic Theater turned this sequel into a sweet summer romp, with a sympathetic Allen Gilmore reprising his current titular role. bottom.
Twenty years after the end of Twelfth Night, Malvolio has long since left Illyria. A respected general in stubborn warfare, he is the leader of the Crossgartard Corps. (It’s a great name. The fun uniform is also by Celeste Jennings.) But a past abuse took a turn for the worse in his mind.
“Humiliation made me reckless,” he says. “A reckless man makes a great soldier.”
In Ian Belknap and Ty Jones’ speedy rendition at the Richard Rogers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park, most of the old gang of “Twelfth Night” are still back in Illyria and not so happy living life Viola’s (Perry Gaffney) and Orsino’s (Rene Thornton Jr.) marriage continues to grow, despite his infidelity, and seeing her disguised as a boy, much like when he fell in love with her. Even though I loved watching it, I keep staggering.
Taking on the role of romance and adventure is their strong-willed daughter, Volina (Kineta Knutu). Against her wishes, she got engaged to Prince Furtado (J.D. Morrison). She’s the only heir to the misogynistic spite and boring King Chadrio (John-Andrew Morrison, so funny you’ll want to root for the king who’s life is threatened in various attempts). Escape from Illyria and meet Malvolio by chance. She quickly develops a crush on him.
Critical of war, skeptical of marriage, and keenly aware of the distorted effects of defining oneself through trauma, Malvolio sees its characters through a decidedly female perspective. Shammy enjoys callbacks to various Shakespearean plays, paying close attention to the women. Vorina’s nurse (Marjorie Johnson) was once Juliet’s nurse.
With a pop of color palette and choreography (by Dell Howlett), it’s a visually and aurally compelling production. (Set by Christopher and Justin Swayder, lighting by Alan C. Edwards, video by Xavier Augustus-Lee Taylor, music by Frederick Kennedy.) Maybe, but it also applies to “12th”. night. “The big picture here is perfectly clear.
Does Malvolio have enough hope in his broken heart to risk loving Volina back? If he does, will she be free to choose him? Well this is comedy. Last Minute Reveal is entirely in the spirit of Shakespeare and is very engaging.
By the way, it’s free. take care of yourself.
Malvolio
through July 29 at the Richard Rogers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park, Manhattan. cthnyc.org. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
