TWELFTH NIGHT

This audiobook celebrates Shakespeare's bright turns of phrase, playful puns, and penchant for a little cross-dressing. The core cast and production staff of L.A. Theatre Works take a busman's holiday in this straightforward musical presentation of one of the Bard's most popular comedies. Shakespeare's emphasis on wordplay and language always sounds good on audio, but here the listener must pay close attention to character and gender. The shipwrecked Viola (a spritely sounding Sarah Drew) disguises herself as a young man to serve Duke Orsino (Chris Butler), who is in love with Lady Olivia (Tara Lynn Barr). The Duke sends the boy to woo the Lady. Issues of same-sex attraction, mistaken identity, and status abound. Not bad for a 500-year-old play. B.P. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]