New York’s beloved Delacorte Theatre in Central Park is back in full swing with Shakespeare in the Park, bringing a star-studded Twelfth Night that leans into festival energy after a renovation pause in 2024. The Public Theater’s annual open-air season has returned refurbished and stocked with familiar faces, led by Lupita Nyong’o as Viola and her real-life brother Junior Nyong’o as Sebastian, with Peter Dinklage, Sandra Oh, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Moses Sumney and more in the company.
Twelfth Night follows Viola’s shipwrecked voyage to Illyria, where she disguises herself as a man named Cesario and enters Duke Orsino’s service, becoming the messenger of unrequited love while Olivia falls for Cesario. The play’s beloved comic engine—Sir Toby and Andrew’s scheming mischief against the pompous Malvolio—provides a running contrast to the genuine romance at the heart of the story. In this production, Sebastian’s arrival adds a further layer of confusion and wit, and the ensemble brings a brisk, buoyant energy to the proceedings. The staging is notably concise, running under two hours with no intermission, designed to keep the pace lively for an outdoor audience.
A distinctive feature this time is the inclusion of Swahili dialogue woven into the action, a nod to the Nyong’o siblings’ Kenyan roots. These moments add texture and warmth, helping to illuminate certain exchanges for audiences who may be new to the play, while also highlighting shared themes of love, longing, and mistaken identity. The production leans into playful, modern-inflected humor, often mixing contemporary gestures with Shakespearean verse to generate hearty laughs. While the approach may feel broad at times, it consistently sharpens the show’s comic verve and accessibility.
Nyong’o’s Viola is a steady anchor for the evening, balancing buoyant comedy with emotional honesty as she negotiates a convincing masculine disguise and a sincere romance with Orsino. Dinklage, by contrast, dives deeply into Malvolio’s pompous rigidity, transforming officiousness into a pointed, comic delirium. His performance is a standout for its physical precision and vocal character, offering a rare blend of sharp disquiet and dazzling humor. When Nyong’o and Dinklage are offstage, the rest of the cast delivers strong, infectious energy, though the director Saheem Ali appears to prioritize fun and whimsy over heavier thematic interrogation in this revival.
The production design is intentionally spare but visually catchy: the stage is punctuated by a prominent WHAT YOU WILL sign, a playful nod to the play’s meta-theatrical streak. Some scenic elements appear and recede with quiet wit, culminating in a finale of extravagant period costumes that heighten the sense of revelry rather than deepen the narrative tensions.
Overall, the show reaffirms Shakespeare’s enduring appeal as a source of lighthearted entertainment that can still spark lively interpretation. For audiences arriving in anticipation of the famed Delacorte experience, this Twelfth Night offers a joyous, high-spirited evening under the open sky, with a standout ensemble that makes the most of the park’s informal, communal vibe. If this revival is any indication, Shakespeare in the Park is back not just to entertain but to remind New Yorkers—and visitors—that the theatre’s best days are still very much alive.
Summary: A sunny, high-energy return for Shakespeare in the Park, led by a remarkable Nyong’o-Dinklage pairing and a playful, accessible take on Twelfth Night. The Swahili moments and brisk pacing add freshness, while the minimalist set and bold costumes deliver a celebration of theatre in Central Park.
Additional notes:
– The 2024 renovation pause is now a memory, with a refreshed space that still honors the venue’s open-air magic.
– The casting pairs familiar faces with a few new or guest performers, reinforcing the show’s broad appeal and star-wue charm.
– The production’s brevity and emphasis on humor make it a strong entry point for first-time theatergoers as well as longtime fans.
Logical angle:
– By weaving a cultural touchstone like Swahili dialogue into a Shakespearean comedy, the production broadens its appeal and highlights Shakespeare’s themes of cross-cultural miscommunication and universal human longing, while also underscoring the park’s role as a democratic stage where classics meet contemporary voices.
If you’re catching this run, expect a cheerful, fast-paced evening that celebrates community, performance, and the enduring joy of live theatre outdoors.