A ‘Night’ illuminated by comedy

With its riot of mistaken identities, cross-gendered disguises and mismatched amorous intrigues, William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is particularly well-suited to a midsummer evening’s outdoor romp -- and the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival delivers a splendid one amid its leafy park venue at California Lutheran University.

Director Susan Angelo’s family-friendly staging emphasizes the life-out-of-balance theme in Shakespeare’s mythical realm of Illyria, whose inhabitants are driven to dysfunctional extremes by their single-minded obsessions. Whether consumed by unrequited love, mourning, drunkenness or prudery, these paralyzed, somber-hued Illyrians require the healing influence that only visitors from a land of ponytailed blonds can supply.

Notwithstanding its poised and polished ensemble (which sports 11 Actors’ Equity professionals), this production’s heart and soul belong to Julia Coffey, who luminously modulates the emotional tides of the plucky shipwrecked heroine, Viola. Rousing herself from despair at the loss of her twin brother, Coffey’s Viola courageously resolves to make a life for herself in this strange new land. Seizing the greater opportunities afforded a man, she disguises herself to serve the reigning Duke Orsino (Brett Elliott) -- only to find herself falling in love with him. When he makes her woo the cold lady Olivia (Julia Duffy) on his behalf, the conflicted loyalties in Coffey’s portrayal are hilariously matched by her discomfort at Olivia’s sudden love for her male persona.

Coffey just as expertly handles physical comedy in her dueling scenes with cowardly Aguecheek (Charles Hutchins), ineptly flailing away with her sword and leaping into a bystander’s arms with wide-eyed terror. Fight choreographers Derek Medina and Elliott skillfully steer the slapstick duels and the serious ones involving Viola’s (unusually convincing) twin brother (Nathan Hedrick) and his swashbuckling pirate friend (Jason Rennie).

Another showstopping comic turn comes from Milan Dragicevich as Malvolio, Olivia’s uptight steward, who’s so stiff he groans with the effort of bending over to retrieve a dropped ring. Dragicevich mines both the laughter and pathos afforded by this plum role. Notably spirited and sharply delineated supporting performances are served up by Anne Lockhart’s mischievous maid, Maria, and Matthew Henerson as the flamboyantly hedonistic drunkard, Sir Toby Belch.

Judging from appreciative squeals from the swarm of tykes whose parents took advantage of the festival’s still-free children’s admission, the light touch in the staging paid off. However, playing up the story’s goofiness sacrifices some of its sexual tension and darkness. The erotic charge in the various romances stays beneath the surface, and there’s little trace of Orsino’s own confusion over his strange attraction to the servant he thinks is a boy, which closes off an opportunity to explore the difference between infatuation and true affection.

With adult ticket prices inching into the territory of full indoor productions, the threadbare set is a handicap, but the production comes through where it counts most -- in its fully professional performances.

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‘Twelfth Night’

Where: Kingsmen Park at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks

When: Fridays-Sundays, 8 p.m. on July 25-27 and Aug. 1-3

Ends: Aug. 3

Price: General lawn seating: adults, $8; ages 18 and under, free; lawn box seating, $35 and $50

Contact: (805) 493-3455

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes