Twelfth Night (Frog and Peach) NYC Reviews and Tickets

"While the cadence of poetic lines can be musically pleasant to hear, if the meaning of the words is not in the forefront for the actor, then the story is lost on the listener. A few of the Frog & Peach actors in this production hit their mark consistently in this regard; some, not so consistently, and still others not very often at all. However, the entire cast has so much fun with their roles that the audience kindly overlooks the more superficial performances and warms up to all by the end."
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"Although there are some bright moments, this trimmed-down ‘Twelfth Night’ lacks wit and clarity...Save one or two brief exceptions...Benson constructs all the scenes with the actors standing in a horizontal line a few feet downstage of the quirky decorations...The approach to the play itself feels rather like the treatment of the scenery...More a series of scene studies...than a fully realized production, you can almost see the line numbers accumulating in the play-text’s margins."
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"It’s hard to write a review when you see the potential, and you see the talent, and you see the possibilities, but what gets presented to you just doesn’t quite gel...There is talent there, although heavily bridled, and occasionally it pops through in fits and starts chomping at the bit to get out."
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"An enthusiastic romp through one of Shakespeare’s most hilarious comedies...The biggest success of this production is the sense of the ensemble's joy in performing it...Their optimism is infectious...But they don’t all necessarily have the skills to raise the production to a professional standard...The director, Lynnea Benson, ensures a tight, electric pace for the work with some lovely moments."
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“An enjoyably accessible take...Frog and Peach’s production brings out the lighthearted comedy that’s so essential to ‘Twelfth Night’s’ success...Benson’s direction unknots the poetic tangles of Shakespeare’s verse...The troupe’s acting also serves the Bard well, though performers’ more emotional portrayals at times come off as a bit overwrought...Frog and Peach’s brisk and non-intimidating interpretation offers a joyful window into how enjoyable the Bard can be."
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"Too many of the other actors muddle their lines and speak haltingly...This production is very broad, at times almost slapstick, and I’m not sure that if it serves as anyone’s introduction to Shakespeare it will have them returning for more. It is presented as a mish-mash of periods hewing to none...While this is an energetic, enthusiastic take, it’s not a fully rounded production."
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"This version makes questionable choices from casting to direction to design. A few of the cast members manage to rise above the confusion and give spot on performances, but sadly not enough to raise the entertainment to a successful level...The first problem is in the casting...Overall, the direction of Lynnea Benson seems much too busy....This 'Twelfth Night' has sporadic charm and humor, but it is an unfortunately uneven holiday."
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