Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Winegardner Auditorium
Memphis, Tenn.
December 11 – 21, 2014
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Dan McCleary
Role: Malvolio
Malvolio (Johnny Lee Davenport) deciphers a letter he believes to be from his mistress Olivia as Fabian (Michael Khanlarian) Sir Andrew Aguecheek (John Leonard Thompson) and Sir Toby Belch (Paul Kiernan) look on. (PHOTO: Harvey Kay)
Dressed per the letter he discovered, Malvolio (Johnny Lee Davenport) reveals his cross-gartered outfit to Olivia. (PHOTO: Harvey Kay)
The unsuspecting Olivia (Tracie Thomason) is mortified by Malvolio (Johnny Lee Davenport) and his new appearance. (PHOTO: Harvey Kay)
Imprisoned for madness, Malvolio (Johnny Lee Davenport) begs Feste (Brad DePlanche) for a pen and paper to write a letter to Olivia to prove he is sane. (PHOTO: Harvey Kay)
Released from prison, Malvolio (Johnny Lee Davenport), deemed “notoriously wronged” by Olivia (Tracie Thomason), vows revenge on his enemies. (PHOTO: Harvey Kay)
Critical Response
“Johnny Lee Davenport, with a resonant voice that shakes walls, is brilliant as the humorless Puritan Malvolio who — in the name of love — dons yellow fishnet stockings and becomes happy. It is a sight and performance to behold.”
—Jon W. Sparks, The Commercial Appeal (December 14, 2014)