Okay so maybe I'm the only one that found that vaguely amusing, but this is a production I've been looking forward to and wind (gale really), rain (it turns out those water level indicators on the sides of roads aren't just the universe taking the wee-wee), and whatever else wasn't going to stop us.

http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/whatson/2010/twelfthnight

We headed down to Ballarat on Friday night, dinner and then the play. And what a production.

It was absolutely fantastic.

Funny, clever, accessible, hilarious in places, sad, beautiful and clever clever clever. Wonderful, energetic, and incredibly versatile small cast, there was some astounding athletic, musical and sheer acting talent on display.

Set in modern day Australia, weaving the aftermath of bushfires into the setting, Twelfth Night takes part on a stage set with a pile of donated goods, and a little smoke affect, and a bunch of shell-shocked players who arrive in centre stage in the aftermath of ... something.

The pile of donated clothes is a centre point for the play - part staging device, part prop, part privacy screen for some very rapid simple costume changes, this production weaves the beautiful and funny words of Shakespeare with a most surprising collection of later day music - including in a particularly gobsmacking moment Throw Your Arms Around Me by the Hunters and Collectors. Honestly it was hard to not feel a tear in the eye at that point. But the high comedy was there - as was a real sense of the cast having fun - serious fun.

We left the theatre with the distinct feeling of having seen Shakespeare in all its glory.

This is a touring company - take a moment to check out the link above and see if they are coming anywhere near you. Anywhere close enough to get to in one or two days - worth every second of the drive.