Twelfth Night,

Salisbury Playhouse

On a sizzling midsummer night in Salisbury, the Playhouse was transformed into a sultry 1920s jazz club, with the band playing Georgia and the lovesick Orsino announcing “If music be the food of love, play on!”

And there’s certainly plenty of excellent music in this wonderful touring production by Newbury’s talented Watermill Theatre, with nods to jazz greats Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong.

William Shakespeare’s 1601 comedy-drama is given a 1920s update with sparkling jazz numbers performed by ten superb actors who can also sing, dance, and play a wide variety of instruments.

Particularly outstanding are the atmospheric and dramatic a cappella vocal harmonies, performed by a rich mix of male and female singers.

As always with Shakespeare’s work, there’s a contemporary relevance with themes of mistaken identity, seduction, and transformation, in a delicious mix of comedy, romance and tragedy.

Brilliantly directed by Paul Hart, the lighting, pace, costumes and stage set are creative.

Among ten outstanding actor-musicians, Peter Dukes as Malvolio is especially compelling, presenting the character as stiff, precise and pedantic towards the end of act one, yet transforming completely in act two.

The audience laughs at him in his kinky yellow stockings and suspenders, yet empathises completely with him as he mentally crumbles in his dark incarceration.

At times harrowing, at times hilarious, Shakespeare’s work retains its sheer entertainment value after 400 years.

Twelfth Night runs until Saturday, matinees Thursday and Saturday.

Brendan McCusker