Twelfth Night Peter Symonds English Literature Dept (From Daily Echo)

Twelfth Night Peter Symonds English Literature Dept

8:32am Tuesday 13th July 2010 in

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Peter Symonds’ outdoor Shakespeare production always produces pleasant surprises, and in this year’s 1920s-set production it was |a delight to hear particularly well-spoken verse and enjoy strong characterisation, all to the accompaniment of a terrific nine-piece jazz band.

As Duke Orsino, Alex Millen set the scene with firmness and clarity of diction, while Marina Hopkins, as Countess Olivia, the object of his unreturned affection, grew in stature and depth as the unlikely plot unfolded.

As the shipwrecked Viola, in love with the Duke and beloved by the Countess, Imogen Comrie shone in the pivotal role and showed rare confidence and control in her understanding of the character’s dilemma.

Comedy was in generous supply too, led by Ewen Davies as the haughty, kilted Scottish steward Malvolio, brought low by the machinations of the big-voiced Alex Lopez as Sir Toby Belch and Thom Kidgell as the delightfully effete Sir Andrew Aguecheek.

Twelfth Night.

Peter Symonds English Literature Dept.

Peter Symonds College, Winchester.

Ed Howson