I, Malvolio

For a lesson in how to make Shakespeare your own, take a leaf out of Tim Crouch's book. His one-man I, Malvolio is like seeing Twelfth Night through a kaleidoscope, and the pictures that he puts together are often hilarious, often challenging and breathe new life into a familiar classic. Crouch—the man behind last year's controversial The Author—says and thinks of everything his bullied and seemingly ridiculous character was never allowed to, and as Malvolio’s tragic tale teeters over the abyss of insanity we are allowed a glimpse or two into the deep.  

Crouch's Malvolio orders the audience to take part in his warped story. He tests their sanity as a counter-weight to his own and crosses personal lines in such a charming way it has adults and children in stiches. Strained and hysterical but never tongue-tied, his rendition of the play is a bit like listening to a lecturer on absinthe. Moreover, the intimate Traverse 2 space provides Crouch with an element of control and he commands the room masterfully. 

I, Malvolio is the fourth one-man Shakespeare adaptation from Crouch, who has previously taken on The Tempest (I, Caliban), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (I, Peaseblossom) and Macbeth (I, Banquo) as partners in his playful "anti-canon". The project, which started as a one-off in 2003, has gone from strength to strength since its beginnings. As this new production continues its success, one can only hope Crouch puts his magic into more of Shakespeare’s works.