One of Shakespeare’s finest comedies – TWELFTH NIGHT – is now performing at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, enhanced by songs that have (almost) turned it into musical theater and that have made its light moments even more delightful. Directed by Ellen Geer, the play will continue in repertory through Sept. 28, 2019.

Shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, and fearing that her brother Sebastian has drowned, Viola must disguise herself as a man. She falls in love with the neighboring Duke Orsino — who loves the Lady Olivia — who loves the disguised Viola. On top of it, Malvolio, the house’s head servant, is in love with his Lady, while the rest of the household’s workers are out to get him. There are plenty of chances for things to go downhill, but in Shakespeare’s plays when things go wrong… they actually get really good.

At Theatricum, original music by composer Marshall McDaniel has been added to the familiar words of the Bard. Music has a way to make great things even better, and in this case, also hilarious. This production makes the audience giggle throughout, and as the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun!

The cast includes Willow Geer as Viola, Christine Breihan as Olivia, Christopher W. Jones as Sir Toby Belch, Max Lawrence as Duke Orsino, Sean McConaghy as Antonio, Cavin Mohrhardt as Sebastian, Elizabeth Tobias as Maria, Frank Weidner as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Time Winters as Feste. Melora Marshall is at her absolute best as Malvolio.

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Melora Marshall / Photo by Ian Flanders

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At Theatricum, this enjoyable tale is adorned by the theater itself. Where else can you hear the words of Shakespeare embellished by a choir of frogs and the sporadic bark of a dog? Here’s a place where you can wrap yourself in a blanket, having enjoyed a picnic in a most wonderful garden, and ready yourself for a magical evening of word and song.

TWELFTH NIGHT is in repertory with four other plays (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Moby Dick-Rehearsed, An Enemy of the People, The Skin of Our Teeth) throughout the summer. For a complete schedule of performances and to purchase tickets, call 310-455-3723 or visit theatricum.com. Tickets range from $10 – $42; children 4 and under are free.

Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd., in Topanga, midway between Malibu and the San Fernando Valley.