ODDSOCKS’ production of Twelfth Night had everything.
As well as giving the 200-strong crowd some fantastic outdoor theatre and a Shakespeare play, there was also a kind of rock concert intertwined on what was a wonderful summer evening of entertainment.
Even before the show started, the talented cast of six were mingling with the audience and enjoying some light-hearted banter (as well as bits of buffet and drinks) with those who had gone along.
Then when the show did get under way it provided laugh out loud moments from start to finish.
The members of OddSOCKS are not merely players, they are performers as well – they ad-libbed their way through the performance, delighting those watching.
Among the highlights of the first half were the slapstick scene of Malvolio (Andy Barrow) getting stuck in a step-ladder and likewise, the hysterical drunken antics of the Russell Brand-esque Sir Toby Belch, played by Kevin Kemp and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Gavin Harrison). Sir Toby was definitely a firm favourite with the audience, especially on the occasions he ventured among them and even made up a song on the spot about one watching woman.
The interval seemed to come very quickly, which is always a good sign, and during that, the cast were once again mingling with the crowd.
As well as providing a beautiful historic backdrop for this kind of theatre, the other beauty of Avoncroft is you can go for a wander half-way through and enjoy the surroundings.
The second half got off to a flyer with Madness’ It Must Be Love being aptly performed as Viola (Rebecca Little) who was dressed as male worker Cesario and Duke Orsino (Gavin Harrison) fighting their urges to get romantically involved.
Prior to coming to see the play, many would have been wondering just how the ‘Britpop’ element was going to be incorporated and this was a good example of how well it was. Another was the playing of Blur’s Girls and Boys after Viola opted to try her luck with the male disguise.
The pick of the second half – and arguably the whole evening – was Malvolio seducing Olivia (Lucy Varney). Stripped to his yellow stockings and cross-gartered and serenading her with Rod Stewart’s Tonight’s the Night went down a storm. The scene was followed by an hilarious Benny Hill style chase (complete with heavy guitar version of the classic theme tune) and preceded by Barrow reading a letter supposedly from Olivia, whilst incorporating Frankie Howerd impressions.
It was plain to see how much fun the cast were having performing this play and that radiated to the audience, providing a fantastic fun and feelgood night for all the family.
Two children watching even got to throw wet sponges at Malvolio whilst he was in the stocks as part punishment for his madness.
The production is being toured until the start of the September and this Britpop brilliance is well worth catching – the Bromsgrove crowd were certainly mad for it.
