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Thursday, May 3, 2007
‘Twelfth Night’ — or 6 reasons to Shake at the Lake
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They came with picnic baskets, blankets and purple armbands — and fanned out in the sunken garden beside Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park.
While ducks bobbed in the water, Georgia Shakespeare transformed the waterside venue into the magical isle of Illyria for Wednesday night’s opening of “Twelfth Night.” The clouds were meek, but the jesters were not.
Now in its fourth year at Piedmont Park, Shake at the Lake has found its groove. Here are six reasons why I love this al fresco production of the play Shakespeare called “Twelfth Night, or What You Will.”
Boffo buffoonery. Director Karen Robinson’s new cast members are delicious enhancements to last summer’s hit show at Oglethorpe University. Allan Edward’s Sir Toby Belch looks ike an over-served Captain Kangaroo, and David Howard’s Feste is delightfully nimble fool.
Ideal location. Only 900 tickets are available for each performance, and the action is gated inside the lakeside bower. Thankfully, there’s no frisbee, no drunken revelers, no space-gobbling lawn chairs. The atmosphere is informal and the focus in on the story. If you prefer to get horizontal and count the stars, you have permission.
Accessible material. You don’t need any fancy schooling to understand this tale of mistaken identity and romantic confusion. Twins Viola (Courtney Patterson) and Sebastian (Joe Knezevich) are lost at sea. When Viola disguises herself as a boy, things get a little wonky.
Noshing is sacred. The topic of eating and toping comes up again and again in the play, so a snack is essential. There’s plenty of takeout in the neighborhood, but we recommend a lamb sandwich and chocolate chip-and-pecan cookie from Alon’s on North Highland Avenue. Or Popeye’s fried chicken and sweet tea.
Chris Kayser. In a hysterical performance, his supercilious Malvolio gets duped into thinking that Olivia (Crystal Dickinson) is in love with him — and makes a perfect fool of himself in a yellow kilt and harlequin stockings.
No charge and a sense of accomplishment. Tickets at Georgia Shakespeare are normally $15-$40. But this event is free. Wrist bands are available on the day of the show at the Piedmont Park Visitors Center (near the 12th Street and Piedmont Avenue entrance) or the Georgia Shakespeare box office at Oglethorpe (4484 Peachtree Road, Atlanta). You may have to wait in line a few minutes, but the payoff is worth it.
The basics: Lawn seating begins at 6 p.m.; performances at 7:30 p.m. tonight-Sunday. Lake Clara Meer Dock, behind Piedmont Park Visitors Center, Atlanta. 404-264-0020, www.shakeatthelake.com.
