Twelfth Night (Classic Stage Company) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (86)
See it if you want to see a fabulous ensemble of gifted actors bring contemporary verve to Shakespeare while still delivering the text with skill!
Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare or you only enjoy Shakespeare when done in traditional period fashion. Read more
See it if Love new twist on classic Shakespeare. Fun innovative interpretation of a classic.
Don't see it if Don't love Shakespeare.
See it if enjoyable, well spoken, inventive take on Shakespeare with direct address, audience inclusion & clowning are what you expect from Fiasco
Don't see it if you can't listen & laugh for 2 3/4 hours, u need more than 10 actors 2 entertain u, you need spectacle & "traditional" Shakespearean interp
See it if U want your melancholy transformed into smiles, joy, through Shakespeare’s words, music, dance and the genius of Fiasco Theaters invention
Don't see it if if you hate Shakespeare through new eyes & an absolutely wonderful ensemble cast performing their hearts out...pure joy
See it if Great intro to Shakespeare's comedy- for the novice and the Bardophile. Funny, great incidental music, Fine cast..Presented with elan.
Don't see it if Fine comedy even if you don't like Shakespeare. No scenery just props, small theater in the round. Fourth wall keeps disappearing. Read more
See it if You are a fan of the Fiasco company and their style of performance, this is a fine example.
Don't see it if You hate Shakespeare or expect large scale epics
See it if You like Shakespeare reimagined from a different vantage point. Enjoy an energetic production with lots of music.
Don't see it if You prefer proscenium productions.
See it if you want one of Shakespeare's comedies performed in a non-traditional manner by a high-energy troupe
Don't see it if you want elaborate period costumes and setting, want Mark Rylance as Viola; don't want uneven acting Read more
Critic Reviews (22)
"The result here is understated, satisfying but without offering a striking new take on a classic work. This carries the risk of the production failing to distinguish itself. But what stands out most strongly here is the collaborative spirit amongst the performers...A skillful and joyous take on an old favorite...The cheery band of performers gives off a most festive energy, and it's easy to feel among friends as you're along for the ride. "
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"Were this production played for laughs, there would have been several standout performances...But continually letting Shakespeare’s cleverest jokes die on the vine took the life out of their performances. Fiasco would be better served, and would better serve Shakespeare, by going back to breathing life into an otherwise neglected and dismissed play...Their take on 'Twelfth Night,' unfortunately, serves little purpose and disappoints an expectant audience."
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“In this stripped down production, Brody and Steinfeld direct much of the focus on the space between the actors all of whom are excellent. The group has that repertory feel...The two actors who are not regular Fiasco performers...Their energy is more direct, which contrast serves the production well...I wish that a sense of context and clarity were more consistently sustained...At times the humor feels a bit forced...It’s a wild ride worth the taking.”
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“A perfect staging of a perfect play...Rarely have I seen a play this perfect. Shakespeare's dialogue is given full reign, conveyed with clarity and warmth. As a result, the audience seems to catch every joke, laughing almost non-stop throughout the action...Another strong win is the ensemble feel of the play and the adeptness of every single cast member...You're unlikely to see a more purely delightful production of Shakespeare's perfect play.”
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"The language of Shakespeare seems to cause a bit of a stumble with these actors...Musically it is lively and sweet...It is enjoyable and fun, landing firmly in the aesthetic of the festive ritual it honors. Could it have been better? Possibly so, but as it is with all parties, a few more songs, more riveting conversations, and a few more laughs are always needed to make a good party even better."
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"The action moves at a quick pace but is at times burdened by the musical interludes which breaks the pace of the farce. If you have not seen the previous production by the Classic Stage Company, indeed include this incarnation of 'Twelfth Night' in your theater schedule. But if you have, there is no need to venture out for the 2-hour and 45-minute rather lackluster production."
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Fiasco Theater’s production reduces the play to an egocentric, uninspired staging that left me wondering if anyone outside of the indulgent company of actors watched a run-through before subjecting the audience...The disconnect between process and presentation is painfully evident. What is deeply lacking in nearly every moment of this production is any authentic human connection among its players. Stomping, posturing, shouting, and buffoonish gestures abound.”
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“They are delivering their customary clarity, but without that extra spark that characterized their ‘Cymbeline’ or ‘Into The Woods’...The main plot feels nearly pushed to the side by one of the play’s two subplots...All three strands, which intertwine at the end, are presented competently and clearly. The musical interludes are highlights. But gone are the playful props and clever staging that have been a signature of Fiasco productions.”
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