Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance’s production of a new musical version of Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night” is outrageously playful and totally delightful.
The musical version by rising Broadway star Shaina Taub takes themes from Shakespeare’s gender-bending play and uses catchy songs to explore and deepen them in a thoroughly enjoyable way.
“Twelfth Night” through April 26 in Baker Theatre, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, 2400 Chew St., Allentown, modernizes the 17th century story with day glo design of set and costumes, as well as up to date language co-mingled with Shakespeare’s prose.
Iris Jordan is appealing as Viola, a young woman who is shipwrecked and disguises herself as a man to protect herself, but finds she enjoys the and power freedom the gender switch awards. She is surprisingly believable as a young man and her discovery that men want to be her friend and women want to be her lover as a man is fascinating and insightful. She has a strong voice on songs’ like her soliloquy and is fun on “What Kind of Man R U Gonna Be?”
Jordan has good chemistry with Dami Shote as Duke Orsino, Olivia’s employer for whom she secretly pines. Shote is charming, rather than imperious as the Duke, and he and Jordan are warm and endearing in their scenes together. However, Shote’s Orsino is smitten with Sophia Betit’s chilly Olivia, who warms up unexpectedly to Jordan in her young man disguise.
The trio “If You were My Beloved” between the three is very nicely done.
This being Shakespeare, there is a subplot involving some crazy characters and it’s a doozy in this production.
Caden Dowgin is humorous as Sir Toby Belch, the perpetually drunken uncle of Olivia who is always getting into mischief. One of the highlights is “You’re the Worst,” in which Dowgin’s Belch and his co-horts send up everyone.
Noelle Simone is memorable as the all-seeing fool Feste and another highlight is the knowing ballad “Is This Not Love?” delivered hauntingly to a clueless Orsino and lovelorn Viola.
But the most hilarious moment of the show is “Count Malvolio,” when Johnny Galletti as the haughty and gullible Malvolio entertains the idea of being a count in an entertaining and over-the-top production number.
Adding to the fun is Kayne Hite as Sir Andrew, a laughably nerdy suitor for Olivia’s hand and co-hort of Toby Belch; and Alec Gould as Viola’s twin brother Sebastian who shows up late and causes more confusion.
Director James Peck keeps the action tight and moving briskly.
The seven-person orchestra led by musical director Ashley Hiester, sounds lush and adds a lot of fun moments to the on stage antics.
Costume designer Rebecca Kanach’s designs are bright and eye-popping all around. Galletti’s cross-gartered yellow stockings have to be seen to be believed.
Equally bright and playfully gaudy are scenic designers’ You-Shin Chen and Ly C. Tamburri-Murry’s set.
The show runs 90 minutes with no intermission, and is appropriate for all ages.
The final performance is 2 p.m. April 26.
For information, go to muhlenberg.edu/seeashow or call 484-664-3333.