TWELFTH NIGHT The New Diorama, London NW1

Shakespeare gets a raw deal from the Faction Theatre Company. There is no scenery; just a black box. The actors make scenery (stormy sea, box-tree, prison cell) with their bodies and hands. Malvolio is mad and wears a leg brace. Orsino is neurotic. Viola and Olivia are listless and speak the verse very badly. Richard Delaney as a very young Sir Toby Belch and Lachlan McCall as a red-nosed Feste are amusing. Best of all is Jonny McPherson whose delightful performance serves the brainless Sir Andrew Aguecheek very well.