“You there, with the white shirt, smug look on your face, arms crossed, come down here,” quips Malvolio, pointing in my direction. Finding myself suddenly on stage, I gripped tightly onto a chair as I readied myself to help Malvolio, played by Tim Crouch, meet his demise.
I, Malvolio, directed by Karl James and A Smith, is a romp through Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night told from the perspective of Malvolio, the misunderstood butler. Drawing the audience in through hilarious interaction and improvisation, Crouch allows us to enter Malvolio’s stream of consciousness.
Throughout the play, Crouch watches the audience carefully and is not afraid to call members out based on their posture, movements or dress. He gets the audience to laugh while examining their own actions. By drawing attention to how petty or insecure people can be, the play’s dark humour gets spectators to pause and consider their own day to day actions and motives. As the star of this one-man show, Crouch commands the audience’s attention while convincing, without coercing, them to participate in their seats and on stage. This was how I ended up a part of the play, if only for a few short minutes.
Before I could think twice about leaving my seat, myself and another audience member found ourselves on stage, with Malvoilio standing on a chair, head in a noose. Surprisingly, given these props, Crouch made me feel at ease by carrying on with the show as if nothing was different.
Showcasing the humour and “INSANITY!” (as Crouch put it) in Shakespeare’s classic, Crouch finds a way to dance along the line between theatre and stand-up comedy. His acting achieves the perfect sweet spot between comedy and pain by taking the humourous elements of a Shakespearian comedy and infusing them with a bit of darkness. With the audience experiencing laughter, deep thought, and at times, discomfort in just 60 minutes, this play will leave you hanging on for Malvolio’s revenge.
I, Malvolio proves that Shakespeare’s work is still relevant today. Forcing the audience to reflect on themselves during the play, I, Malvolio is about what drives us as humans. Crouch’s demeanor on stage could not be described as gentle or understanding, but it is this manner that allows the audience to be introspective about their own lives.
I, Malvolio is on as a part of PuSh Festival until February 10. Playing at the Cultch’s Historic Theatre (1895 Venable St), more information and ticket details can be found online.
