After impressing Shanghai’s Shakespeare lovers with last year’s production of King Lear, Shanghai Repertory Theater is back with timeless comedy Twelfth Night. Producer Rosita Janbakhsh has assembled a cast of incredibly gifted actors, who bring the stage alive with their deftly crafted portrayals.

This production is set in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War. Instead of the traditional shipwreck, it is a plane crash that separates twins Sebastian and Viola. They both wash up on the shores of Illyria, an island where japes abound, and mistaken identity ensues. As in all of Shakespeare’s comedies, all’s well that ends well, but not before several humorous plotlines have been played out.

A simple white set allows the actors to shine, and shine they do. Viola is played by SRT veteran Natasha Portwood, and brings the right mix of confidence and bewilderment to the role. Her demeanour is the ideal complement to Verena Hüegel’s Countess Olivia. Hüegel is a vision of 1930s glamour in a series of fitted suits, and her transition from grief to lust for Viola’s male guise, Cesario, is well timed.

The comic sub-plot involving Malvolio, Maria, Sir Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek is similarly well played. Mustaq Missouri’s drunken Toby is pure comedy, as is Christy Shapiro’s Hispanic Maria. Jordan Baszner brings just the right amount of slapstick to his portrayal of Andrew, and Patrick McQuillan’s Malvolio is pensive and refreshingly unbombastic.

The stand-out performance, however, is Laurie Padgett Fralick as the Fool. In a sea of muted beige and green costumes, her bright red tunic and feather headdress stand out, and her supple capering and gorgeous singing voice enliven the stage.

Twelfth Night runs until April 3rd at the Ke Center, so there is still time to catch it.

1. Drunken Dragon CNY Pub Crawl (19th January)

The Drunken Dragons really come into their own as the Year of teh Dragon rolls around. Join them on one of their legendary crawls for fireworks, cheap drinks, and plenty of fun. Dress code: red. 150 RMB with reservation. 180 RMB at the door. Meet at O'Malley's @ 9:30pm.

2. Mod Dance Party @ Lune (21st January)

See in the New Year at Lune with tunes from the '50s and '60s, including mod, motwon, punk, garage and more. No cover. 

3. Sweatshop pres. Dragon's Den @ Shelter (21st January)

Catch DJ Siesta's three-hour set, plus appearances from DJ Roo, plus Sweatshop residents Viceroy and MC Stride. 30 RMB on the door. It's going to be a 龙 night...

4. Enter The Dragon @ The Geisha (21st January)

Ever stylish, The Geisha is bringing DJ Sonic in to spin, and offering cool giveaways throughout the night. Grab a spot on the terrace to watch the fireworks.

5. Wonderland @ Zeal (21st January)

Zeal's monthly Shanghai No Limit party takes on a special New Year vibe this weekend. Free entry before 11pm, and 100 RMB after with one drink.

6. CNY @ Bar Rouge (22nd January)

It's a classic. Bar Rouge's terrace comes into its own for one wintry night only, offering the best view in town. 100 RMB, or free until midnight with the password "Dragon". Dress code: red.

7. 1Love Year of The Dragon @ The Apartment (22nd January)

It's free entry at The Apartment on CNY eve this year, so dress up in red and get ready for a great night.

8. Chinese New Year's Eve @ Mural (22nd January)

A live band and a posse of fire-breathers welcomes the Dragon at Mural, with free shooters for an hour after midnight.  50 RMB on the door. Free entry for people born in Dragon Years (1988, 1976, 1964).

1. Anna Maya

This cute cafe on Taojiang Lu serves a great selection of vegetarian and vegan food in a retro setting. 

2. Kush

The newest kid on the block, Kush is a tiny space with a strong sustainable focus, serving tasty Western and Asian dishes.

3. Godly Vegetarian

If you're a veggie in denial, feast on Godly's meat-free versions of regular dishes. This is one of the most enduringly popular vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai.

4. Vegetarian Lifestyle

Famous around town for its "fake meat" substitutes, this is the place to take reluctant non-veggie friends.

5. New Age Veggie

Another haven for meat substitutes, New Age sounds all zen and floaty, but it's actually a no-nonsense, no frills restaurant with decent, well-priced vegetarian food. 

More vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai