Esparza, McDonald, Cumpsty complete cast of SITP's TWELFTH NIGHT

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 12:20pm

Michael Cumpsty, Raúl Esparza, Hamish Linklater, Audra McDonald, David Pittu, Jay O. Sanders will join Anne Hatahway in TWELFTH NIGHT.

Cumpsty is Malvolio, Esparza is Orsino, Linlater is Aguecheek, McDonalid is Olivia, Pittu is Feste and Sanders is Sir Toby.
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 12:20 PM

[Taryn]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 12:33pm

So you're saying that me not visiting NYC this summer is NOT an option.
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 12:33 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 12:33pm

Ha. I was right about Orsino.

And Audra! Yay!

Updated On: 4/15/09 at 12:33 PM

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 12:35pm

This sounds great!

Hopefully I'll be in the city this summer to catch a performance.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 12:44pm

This is me COMPLETELY FLAILING.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:11pm

UM, YAY!

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:20pm

Yeah, Orsino made the most sense, casting-wise, but lord! he's a dull fellow!

Well, if anyone can liven him up, it's Raúl!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:26pm

I totally agree, humbug. Here we have one of the finest performers in front of the public today wasted on an unrewarding role. Malvolio might have been interesting casting, but there's no place to go with Orsino. Not really on topic, but if we're talking Shakespeare, think what an Iago Esparza would make!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:43pm

what an Iago Esparza would make!

That has long been on my wish list.

I don't know Twelfth Night very well, but I would like to believe that if anyone can do something with a "nothing" character, it's him.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:46pm

I'm hoping that perhaps Raúl saw this as a challenge to try and make something special out of not a lot to work with. He does seem to relish such theatrical difficulties.

And, oh dear heavens, Iago! I don't dare dream that he'll get to play Iago someday. That would be so stunning I can't even think of anything coherent to say!

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:48pm

Did anyone see Pittu on Fringe last night?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:58pm

I did!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:59pm

I'm sure Raul Esparza would rather be doing this with an A-List cast than doing nothing at all.

I'm excited about this. Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespeare play and I am so excited that Audra is now involved. She will be a fantastic Olivia.

[Bostongal]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:07pm

Back in the late 70's, early 80's, I saw Raul Julia as Othello and Richard Dreyfuss as Iago in the Park...Oh, Joe Papp was the best at casting!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:08pm

I was telling myself that I couldn't afford a trip to New York until this fall... how weak is my resolve? Amazing cast, my general "blah" feelings towards Hathaway notwithstanding (although honestly, I think she'll probably do well).

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:39pm

random question..sorry to threadjack..but how does SITP work for the actors? do they get paid? i know it's free so i'm curious how this works out.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:56pm

DAMN IT...this sucks. Now I'll HAVE to camp out this summer.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:13pm

Orsino may not be one of Shakespeare's overtly fascinating creations, but he's far from a dull, "nothing" character. I've seen many productions that play on Orsino's sexual ambiguity, and it makes for a fascinating character study. Plus, he has that great and pompous "If music be the food of love" speech. I think it's a great fit for Esparza.

That being said, and no offense intended, I'm annoyed at the prospect of Esparza/Audra McDonald/Anne Hathaway fangirls that will now rush to see a play they otherwise wouldn't have bothered with. I have a huge pet peeve when it comes to people seeing a play (and a classic, at that) ONLY for a given actor. If it takes a particular performer to get someone to support Shakespeare in the Park, they shouldn't call themselves theatre lovers to begin with.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:14pm

Love it.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:18pm

Well Chica, darling, you can see a production of "Twelfth Night" just about anywhere. The casting is the reason to see this particular production.

That said.... YES, YES, YESSSSSS to this casting!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:19pm

gerb: the actors are paid in the $500s. It's pennies. But for them it's a labor of love. How often will you get the opportunity to do Shakespeare in an open-air theater in Central Park?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:58pm

Orsino may not be one of Shakespeare's overtly fascinating creations, but he's far from a dull, "nothing" character. I've seen many productions that play on Orsino's sexual ambiguity, and it makes for a fascinating character study

That's what I mentioned in the now-deleted rumor thread. Any Shakespeare is dull when it's played as nothing more than lines on a page, but Shakespeare left so much room for interpretation that unfortunately goes unused so often.


Anne Hathaway in Shakespeare. Hee.

Updated On: 4/15/09 at 04:58 PM

[Hest882]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 5:21pm

What sweetestsiren said.

I'm supposed to be sticking to a budget, and NYC is decidedly NOT a part of that budget. Gee, but that devil on my shoulder is quite the charmer...

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 6:56pm

I LOVE Raul , but I HATE Shakespeare. This is bittersweet.

[scaryclowns2232]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:15pm

Perfect casting.

I am camping out. And I am getting tickets. Because this looks INCREDIBLE.