SO, in the immortal words of PJ and Duncan...

Let’s get Ready to Rhumble!

Occasionally Propeller are liberal with the Bard.

This being spoken by Patron Chair of Drunkards, Sir Toby Belch (Vince Leigh) as a hilariously-garbed Sir Andrew Aguecheek (John Dougall) squares up to supposed love rival Viola (Joseph Chance).

Actresses being absent in Shakespeare’s time, this superb all-male company are turning us on to the spirit of the original, in a hilarious, inventive way.

With cross-gartered, crossdressing Twelfth Night, what we cry out for is a coquettish, dominatrixy heroine and we get one with Ben Allen as Olivia, who Viola tries to woo for her new employer, Count Orsino.

Olivia falls for Viola’s Cesario, while Viola’s hots remain firmly for the Count.

In a play obsessed with music and song, the ensemble rise to the challenge like some quirky 14-piece Zanies Orchestra with lots of weird things – wind, glasses, bizarre percussive tinkles and horrorfilm heebie-jeebies.

This fits one of the visual inspirations perfectly, being “a very specific shot” from Kubrick’s The Shining, streamers and all.

Michael Pavelka’s visions and ideas have created a superb set, although its levels were underused across the two productions in this season.

Feste (Liam O’Brien) was underplayed, for me; nearly lost on a stage of super showoffs.

Characters don a mask and watch, malevolently, when they are not in the action, which frees them up to play music, but I wanted more context to this spooky spectatorship.

The star turn is always Malvolio, and Chris Myles does not disappoint in the officious little steward who humiliates himself, in studded thong and fishnets.

The company are very big on drawing the audience in, with some asides straight from panto, an authentic touch.

I have a new theatre crush – Bravo to the Propeller. Long may it revolve.

  • Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. For tickets, call 0844-811-2121 or go to theatreroyal.co.uk

Sarah Scott