"If Music be the food of love, play on," says Orsino, early in the proceedings of William Shakespeare's holiday classic, "Twelfth Night." It is thought the play, written around 1600, was written as a celebration piece for the end of the Christmas season. Christmas celebrations in Shakespeare's era went on for days, a time of great merriment and pleasure. The subtitle "What You Will" involves the audience in the merry mayhem of the play, and mayhem it is!

Bonnie J. Monte directs a most engaging production for the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, with choices in staging that emphasize the physical aspects of this comedy. Broadly played, the ribald humor becomes more obvious to those who might be new to Shakespeare. "Twelfth Night" is a delectable cleansing of the palate after STNJ's very brilliant, very heavy "Grapes of Wrath," which preceded it.

Immediately upon entry to the theatre, the eye is dazzled by the texture and brightness of the set. Shaggy white walls contrast with a brilliant shiny blue floor and there are heaps of fluffy white mounds on either side of the stage. Setting the scene for "Twelfth Night" are lighting designer Anthony Galaska and costume designer Clint Ramos. Monte serves as set designer, in addition to her director's duties, with Denise Cardarelli as production stage manager. The interplay of the vision of these experts shows how much may be done with a fluid set that changes with cloud-like Zen from one scene to the next, with the slightly stylized setting of pieces occurring throughout. The exits and entrances of the chandeliers in the various "houses" is absolutely terpsichorean.

Returning to Madison NJ for this production is Ryan Farley as Feste. Standing out from all, in his orderly motley of white with red stripes, he is the ribbon that weaves and binds and illuminates throughout. The subtlest of expressions adds many meanings to the words of our "fool."

Steve Wilson and Elena Shaddow cross swords as Orsino and Olivia. Though they are destined to remain apart, Orsino's poetic and quixotic passionate outbursts are neatly contrasted by Olivia's cool as marble demeanor. Cherchez la femme is especially meaningful when one considers the multiple mistaken identities that abound in this masterful work. Shaddow emerges from the frost of her mourning in fits and starts that are adorable and humorous and, although at first her eye is cast on the wrong "man," watching the warming of her womanly nature is delightful. Wilson's Orsino remains as changeable in direction as a school of fish, and are we really meant to see women as always changing while men remain the same?
Dave Shalansky is Sir Toby Belch, with Matt Bradford Sullivan playing the benighted and be-knighted Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Lovable rogues both, the chemistry between this duo and Jon Barker as Fabian feels like real buddies and little boys egging each other on all at the same time.

Geoff Wilson and Amy Hutchins are our brother and sister duo, Sebastian and Viola. Wilson is mild as he contemplates the curves the world keeps throwing him-he's fine with his confusion threshold. Hutchins is walking a tightrope as Cesario, trying to hold her love for Orsino back from anyone's sight while eluding Olivia's nascent embraces, and curbing her womanly impulses that seem to erupt unbidden when she's most supposed to be manly. Delicious!

Daniel Stewart returns for a completely different role, trading his heroic Laertes for the comic popinjay, Malvolio. Stewart's facial expressions are like individual clouds crossing a prairie as Malvolio's vagaries of emotions move as quickly, especially during the infamous puzzling out of the letter scene. Erin Partin plays the mistress of his undoing, Olivia's lady-in-waiting, Maria. Partin's Maria is saucy, sexy and sassy on the razor's edge of propriety. Perfect for a near-winter evening's entertainment. When Maria and Toby are in the same room, the air is redolent of where they want to go...but won't, until the walk down the aisle.

Playing the versatile grouping of characters, common in any Shakespeare play, we have Roger Dominic Casey as the loyal and loving Antonio, who has fished Sebastian from the briny blue; Sean Hudock as Orsino's man, Valentine, and an arresting officer; and familiar faces Philip Estrera (Musician, officer) and Philip Guerette (Sea Captain/Curio/Priest). We've seen these last two members of the STNJ family both on the main stage and as part of the Next Stage Ensemble. It is wonderful to watch their work as it grows.

The combination of broad farce, physical comedy and period music makes for a great escape from the everyday worries outside the theatre. Hearing Shakespearean language is often like trying to understand a dialect, even when it is done well, and in this case the prose is clear and faceted and easy to follow, and when it is coupled with the engaging sketches and movement of the cast, the meanings are clear to all.
Times are hard for many this year, and it's a difficult Holiday season. Rather than giving another fill-in-the-blank gift, why not give an experience like Shakespeare Theatre of NJ to someone you love. It's a great way to celebrate winter and the New Year, while enriching the community and the arts at the same time. This "Twelfth Night" could provide many epiphanies of its own.

Tickets for Twelfth Night are on sale now and range in price from $30 to $54 depending on performance day and time. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.