Theatre Reviews

Could you find a way to present Twelfth Night in a way that is basically true to the story, but comprehensible to kindergarteners? Neither could Lifeline. Robert Kauzlaric’s world premiere adaptation turns its characters into talking animals to make them more fun to children, and labors hard to convince them that love isn’t icky and help keep its eight characters played by four actors straight. But the company’s website recommends the show for ages 5 and up, a demographic also targeted by the poster artwork, and there is just no way to make that work. With older children, perhaps in the 8-11 range, the show might have more success, but that’s not who I saw there, and the plot is simply too complex and outside small children’s areas of interest.