Lupita Nyong’o Shines in Star-Studded ‘Twelfth Night’ at Shakespeare in the Park
Quinn Parker here, caffeine levels at DEFCON 1, and let me just say: if you thought Shakespeare was stuffy, you clearly haven’t seen Lupita Nyong’o in *Twelfth Night* at the Delacorte Theater. I mean, who else could make a gender-bending, shipwrecked noblewoman look this effortlessly fabulous?!
Okay, so imagine this: you’re in Central Park, the air smells like hot dogs and ambition, and right in front of you is the freshly renovated Delacorte Theater—$85 million later and looking like it walked out of a West Elm catalog. And inside? A cast so star-studded it could qualify as a Hollywood reunion special. Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson all in one Shakespearean sandbox? Pinch me, I’m dreaming!
The play, *Twelfth Night*, is a classic romp of mistaken identities, cross-dressing, and romantic chaos, which makes it the perfect comeback vehicle for Shakespeare in the Park after a two-year hiatus for renovations. And let me tell you, the theater looks *good*. Sleek, modern, and ready for its next 60 years. But the real star? The comedy itself, which is as nutty and colorful as ever, bathed in seductive red and purple lights and anchored by a set that literally spells out “WHAT YOU WILL” in giant 3D letters. And guess what? Everyone on stage seems to take that as a direct order to go full ham.
Lupita plays Viola, shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian (played by her actual brother, James Nyong’o—yes, really!). She disguises herself as a man named Cesario and goes to work for Duke Orsino, played by the magnetic Kris Davis. And Lupita? She’s commanding, warm, funny, and every bit the Shakespearean pro. She’s got that rare gift—she makes the language feel modern without losing its Elizabethan flair. And her chemistry with James? Adorable. Like watching your cool cousins at a family reunion.
Then there’s Sandra Oh as Olivia, the grieving noblewoman who suddenly finds herself smitten with Cesario. This is a joy to watch because, let’s face it, Sandra’s recent stage roles have been pretty intense (*The Welkin*, *Death and the Maiden*), so seeing her back in full rom-com mode is like spotting a unicorn in the wild. She enters through the giant letter “O” (yes, really), and from that moment on, she’s radiant, regal, and completely in charge of her romantic destiny.
Peter Dinklage is Malvolio, the strict, straight-laced steward who gets hilariously pranked into believing Olivia is in love with him. He starts off like a cross between a corporate drone and a Victorian schoolmaster, but by the end, he’s a lovesick, feral clown. It’s a transformation so absurd it’s mesmerizing. And Jesse Tyler Ferguson, best known as Mitchell from *Modern Family*, plays Sir Andrew Aguecheek like a human tumbleweed caught in a windstorm. He’s ridiculous, and I mean that in the best possible way.
There’s also John Ellison Conlee as the drunken Sir Toby Belch, who spends half the play doing lines of coke in a heart-shaped tub. It’s a bold choice, but hey, Shakespeare would’ve loved it. And then there’s Moses Sumney as Feste, the fool who’s supposed to be the wisest of them all. He’s got a haunting falsetto and a guitar, but his acting doesn’t quite match the rest of the cast’s energy. Still, his songs are beautiful, even if they do slow the show down a bit.
Look, the show isn’t perfect. Some of the modern touches clash, and not every joke lands. But the energy is electric, the cast is clearly having a blast, and the Delacorte itself feels reborn. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what Shakespeare in the Park is all about? Stars, stories, and a little bit of magic under the stars?
Whew! That was a LOT to process!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post
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