A walk in the park with Elm Shakespeare

If you start in the center of Yale's campus, begin the long, slow trudge up Science Hill, and continue walking, eventually you will arrive at the hidden treasure of Edgerton Park. The park is actually the estate of a wealthy woman who, upon her death, left it all to the city of New Haven on the condition they maintain it as a public park.

SARA EDWARD-CORBETT/YH

Here, in the expansive estate surrounded by a stone wall which, according to local lore, the woman chose over a diamond necklace, the Elm Shakespeare Company holds its annual performance. In this, the third year of its existence, the group performs Twelfth Night (or What You Will), Shakespeare's classic, gender-bending, and outrageously comedic love story.

The hacienda-like set has been designed by Jamie Burnett to incorporate the surrounding trees and flowers. Stairs, balconies, arches, and a fountain, all draped with overflowing wisteria and vines, compose the stage. Although most of the audience sits on the grass in a semi-circle around the stage, bleachers have been provided for those audience members who are less-than-fond of dirt.

From the wistful opening line, "If music be the food of love, play on...," to the close of the play two and a half hours later, the actors of Twelfth Night are entirely captivating. Feste, the Fool, played by John Hadden, steals almost every scene in which he appears, earning constant laughs for his clever and biting commentary. Nadia Lovejoy Bowers's portrayal of Viola (who herself poses as the boy servant Cesario) has more than a bit of swagger to it. And the chemistry between Bowers and Johnny Lee Davenport brings to life the comically awkward relationship of Viola and Duke Orsino.

When Lisa Bostner's Olivia falls in love with Cesario/Viola, the triangle of misunderstanding turns Viola's act of survival into a tale of appearances and facades. Bruce Altman as Malvolio (who falls in love with Olivia); Kes Khemnu as Sir Toby Belch; Caleb Sekeres as the bumbling Sir Andrew Aguecheek; and Nancy Segal as the playful, sexy Maria all prompt additional laughter.

Perhaps most interesting is the company's presentation of a somewhat uncommon interpretation of the frequently performed Twelfth Night. By leaving Olivia's emotional status ambiguous at the play's close, Andreassi emphasizes her confusion at finding that the man she hoped to marry was, in more ways than one, not the man for her. In the natural and open surroundings of Edgerton Park, we find that quite often things are not what they seem, and as the Bard himself writes, sometimes "nothing that is so is so."

In Andreassi's production of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's challenge to his audience--to discover the truth behind the facade--rings out loud and clear.

Back to A&E...