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TWELFTH NIGHT

Selections from “Twelve Nights, Six Actors” by Kurt Daw

Rumsby’s set design, echoing the central prop in the play, a toy theatre/music box, turns the Royce Gallery’s tiny playing space into a virtue. We know from her concept that we are seeing an imaginative romp. It invites us to think of the play as literal “play,” a game in progress.

Twelfth Night is so full of virtuoso performances, including some very unexpected casting and doublings, that I am reminded again that when you bet big on the actors, small is beautiful.

The cast was astonishing–hysterically funny and heartbreakingly serious by turns–all night long. The virtuosity of the performances, of the transformations, and of the ensemble work was exemplary. 

Rumsby’s production is intimate. The space is small. The cast is reduced to just six players. The set and costumes are simple. The means are limited but the pay-off is huge. The play is actually MORE enjoyable because of the imaginative and versatile way that it is produced.

SOURCE: SHAKESPEARE TRIBE

Selections from “A Delightful Whirlwind” by Rachel Norby

“Audrey Rumsby Rejuvenates Shakespeare Comedy”

“Twelfth Night” has all the convoluted plot lines and fanciful, farcical characters we expect in a Shakespeare comedy.  And yet, Director Audrey Rumsby has managed to pull it off with only six actors at the Arabian Shakespeare Festival.  Each performer impeccably plays two or three roles, with superb results.

The pairings of actors to two or more roles is a fascinating showcase of human behavior. The pairings range from absurd and honorable to stoic and silly, offering us brilliant new insights in Shakespeare’s constellations of characters.

Rumsby’s vision thrives with her uniquely talented cast of six.  The actors carry it off with hilarity and fun, demonstrating remarkable talents. A magnificent, endearing, and enjoyable “Twelfth Night” by the Arabian Shakespeare Festival.

SOURCE: THE MERCURY NEWS | THEATRIUS

Selections from “Arabian Shakes gets physical with Shakespeare’s 12th Night” by David John Chávez

To say San Jose native Audrey Rumsby’s path through theatre and performance is unique would be an understatement on par with “Hamlet wanted to share a few words.”

For Rumsby, her “Twelfth Night” blends the traditional Elizabethan period with a focus on movement rooted in Italian Commedia dell’Arte, with a cast of only six – five women and one man. 

Rumsby looked at the most challenging way to double cast and settled on the fact that she wanted each actor to play their character’s opposite. Performing two extremely distinct characterizations based in distinct, traditional and trained physicality presented challenges that were both intimidating and thrilling.

“The biggest challenge has been pushing only six actors to tell a cohesive story with 12 different characters while also entertaining equally the physicality of the character,” said Rumsby. “You have to be so specific with every single choice, and each choice has to be played so that you have two completely unique and different people. To really sell the story, you must effectively convince us they are two completely different characters going through two completely different journeys.

“There are moments I am sitting in rehearsal and laughing so hard... it’s just stunning.” 

“It’s funny, fast and more different than probably anything we’ve done, so we’re happy all the way around.”

- William Brown, Artistic Director, Arabian
Shakespeare Festival

SOURCE: BAY AREA PLAYS