Tag Archives: Alex Lydon

Twelfth Night

On Demand, Shakespeare March 23, 2025 Leave a comment

Twelfth Night is arguably the most lovely of all of Shakespeare’s comedies.  It reflects the same lighthearted and celebratory nature as the Christmas holiday for which it is named.  Set along the sun-kissed coast of Illyria with happily-ever-after always in view, it includes many of the playwright’s favorite motifs — tangled affections, mistaken identify, and class contrasts — and blends them into a frothy mixture.  Now playwright Alison Carey has given it a delicate layer of modern polish, increasing the ease of comprehension while leaving the most memorable lines intact.  Her translation is being produced at TheatreSquared and performed by the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) who co-present along with Play On Shakespeare.  Further enlivened by new music soaringly sung by Joyce Meimei Zheng, it’s a delightful family-friendly entertainment.

Nima Rakhshanifar, Karen Li, Eston J. Fung, and Anula Navlekar are among the National Asian American Theatre Company cast members of Twelfth Night at TheatreSquared, now streaming.

At the opening we are introduced to Count Orsino (Eston J. Fung) who pines for the lovely Olivia (Karen Li).  But the lady is in mourning over the recent death of her brother and is not open to his wooing.  She is protected and served by the crafty Maria (Nandita Shenoy).  Living with them is Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch (Victor Chi), who spends much of his time drinking and playing tricks on those around him.  He hopes his niece will accept a proposal of marriage from his good friend, the sweet but foolish Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Alex Lydon).  The two other members of this household could not be less alike.  Her house manager, the self-important Malvolio (audience favorite Rajesh Bose), is the most humorless man in the realm, while her fool, Feste, (Joyce Meimei Zheng) is often seen around town entertaining everyone with jokes and songs.

Meanwhile, a shipwreck just off shore has separated devoted twins Viola (Anula Navlekar) and Sebastian (Nima Rakhshanifar).  Each believes the other to be drowned.  Recognizing the potential perils of living as a woman alone in a strange land, Viola has disguised herself as a young man and now serves as a page to the broken-hearted Orsino.  When she is sent to court Olivia in the Count’s name in her male garb, she inadvertently wins the woman’s heart for herself.

Vibrantly directed by Aneesha Kudtarkar making her T2 debut, the cast whizzes through nearly 2 ½ hours of poetry, music and storytelling.  An amusingly choreographed duel is a highlight.  Each line is spoken clearly and with natural rhythm.  The set by scenic designer Chika Shimizu provides ladders, platforms, and a bridge that promote physicality and an openness that is bathed by Marie Yokoyama’s seaside-colored lighting.  Costume designer Mariko Ohigashi adorns the actors in warmly colored relaxed fabrics that move with them, further enhancing the ease and fluidity of the entire play.

The welcome comfort is palpable in this Twelfth Night.  While I was anticipating some form of cultural spin, what I saw was a first rate production of an easy-to-like play.  Illyria can be reimagined to be anywhere where the only person who is mocked is the one who stomps on everyone else’s delight.  The point is not what these people look like, but rather the joy they take in each other’s company.  TheatreSquared is located at 477 W. Spring St. in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas.  In person tickets ($30-$60) as well as an on-demand stream ($25/$35) are available on the TheaterSquared website (https://www.theatre2.org/twelfth-night).  Performances continue through Sunday, March 30.

Cambodian Rock Band

Musical, Play, streaming March 20, 2024 Leave a comment

The actions perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia were so extreme they are quite literally incomprehensible to many Americans.  The brutal regime very nearly decimated the cultural heritage of the Southeast Asian nation.  Nearly a quarter of the population was wiped out including the majority of doctors, teachers and artisans.  To this day, it is considered one of the world’s least developed countries by the United Nations.

Lauren Yee’s play with music, Cambodian Rock Band, takes us through the Cambodian Civil War and genocide through the eyes of one family and a prison commander who has finally been brought to trial on charges of Crimes Against Humanity.  It’s 2008 and Chum has arrived in Phenom Penh for a surprise visit with his American-born daughter, Neary.  She has been investigating Duch, who oversaw the murder of so many prisoners that only seven were found alive at the time of liberation.  For reasons that become obvious, Chum has conflicted feelings about his “lost” homeland and would love nothing more than for his child to give up her fact-finding mission, return to the USA and attend law school.  Flashbacks to 1975 complete the picture.  A time when music thrived in the country, these scenes include the amateur recording of the titular rock band with songs by Dengue Fever under the musical direction of Jason Liebson.  (Whether they have you dancing at your seat or tapping your foot with impatience to get on with the story depends very much on your love of tunes from that period.)

The work warmly humanizes the examination of the different ways in which people respond to danger and the instinct to survive. Using Duch as a narrator, Yee never lets us forget that we are watching a play orchestrated by a storyteller who can manipulate the plot.  Along the way, she weaves enough fact into the dialogue to carry everyone along without feeling lectured to.  Director Nelson T. Eusebio III skillfully handles the transitions between history, thriller, and dark comedy.  The ensemble — Eileen Doan, Jojo Gonzalez, Alex Lydon, Shawn Mouacheupao, K Chinthana Sotakoun, and Greg Watanabe — radiate emotional energy.  Many cast members perform dual roles, enhanced by the costume designs of Yoon Bae. The stark set by Riw Rakkulchon keeps our attention on the powerful language with the concert elements, including colorful projections by Caite Hevner, allowing us to breathe or maybe even scream. 

K Chinthana Sotakoun as Neary/Sothea; Photo Credit Wesley Hitt

In light of our own current struggles with authoritarianism and the reevaluation of America’s role on the international stage, the themes explored in Cambodian Rock Band ring even louder than in 2019 when it premiered.  While Yee softens the blows of the story with song, she never blunts the message.  Running time is 2 ½ hours including a 15 minute intermission.  Theatre Squared provides a lounge with a live stream at their venue in Fayetteville, Arkansas for those who need to take a mid-performance break.  There is also the option to stream the production from home, which is how I was able to see it in New York.  Performances continue through March 24.  Visit https://tix.theatre2.org/overview/25509/ for ticket prices and further information.