Review- Twelfth Night- AFTEC
26-10-16
A shipwreck takes Viola to Illyria where she is forced to dress as a man and act as Cesario to be Duke Orsino’s servant, who she ends up falling in love with. However, he sends her to say sweet words on his behalf to Olivia who falls for Cesario. If the situation doesn’t seem messy enough, imagine what happens when Viola’s twin brother arrives.
This tangled comedy is one of Shakespeare’s most mature works and as most of them, a timeless classic. This adaptation is set in Colonial Hong Kong during the beginning of the 20th Century; the play takes advantages of similarities such as Illyria being an island and the hierarchical nature of both societies. This choice might seem like a right call, but it 's not entirely explored, given that the text is not edited, but merely simplified to be more comprehensible. However, there is an impressive aspect of this performance: the young age of its actors.
The play comes as the result of a collaboration between AFTEC and RCS Education Team, both associations connected with the development and education of young performers. Part of the acting team spent four weeks at LAMDA in London receiving professional acting training, and continued their efforts in Hong Kong to present a show on par with professional work done by more experienced actors.
The whole crew has accomplished a great challenge, which is making aShakespeare text yours, especially when English is your second language.
The young actors not only delivered their lines but understood the intentions of their characters and they kept a great rhythm and pace throughout their scenes following the dynamics of comedy. But above all, they conveyed a passionate performance. The primary role of this play was given to Chan Ching Tung Kaja, an actress
whose energy and presence filled the stage. This young promise showed a great dynamic range in her role as Viola. To see such a young talent exploring the stage with confidence is inspiring.
Another eye-catching performance was Yu Wai Tsun Rachel’s playing Olivia, who goes from a woman mourning her dead brother to a playful girl in love. Olivia’s ability to portray both sides to this performance was great to watch from beginning to end.
Finally, there is a high recognition that should be given to the actors representing the sailors, great physical theatre performers who took the audience through a shipwreck, a garden and a wedding dance with their
well-trained bodies.
Aftec's drama lab connects young actors to a significant classic and allows Shakespeare to continue its path through our history 400 years after his death. Of course, these kids have a lot to work on, and have a lot of room to grow. Some of them still felt a bit stiff or uncomfortable on stage or were acting roles that might be too old for their young age. But this group of talented performers will probably continue a road of discipline, hard word and strong commitment as they have shown before and we will keep a close eye on any future projects they are involved.
Twelfth Night is now closed. For more information, click here.
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