Twelfth Night - Fall 2021

Synopsis Twelfth Night is a popular Elizabethan romantic comedy written in 1601 by William Shakespeare. The play begins with Duke Orsino of Illyria talking to his servants about his undying love for the Lady Olivia, despite her disinterest in taking a lover due to her still being in mourning over the death of her brother. Next to enter is Viola, a high born young woman who is the protagonist of the story. Viola’s introduction is made while she converses with a captain and his crew after washing ashore from a shipwreck. In the aforementioned shipwrecked, Viola is led to believe that her brother, Sebastian, died at sea and that she must find her own way in this new land of Illyria. Later, Viola is told of both the Lady Oliva and Duke Orsino and decides to disguise herself as a man by the name of Cesario to work for Orsino, since Olivia has become reclusive since her brother’s death. While under the employ of Orsino and the false identity of Cesario, Viola begins to run messages on beha...

  Twelfth Night is one of the most beloved and known of Shakespeare's comedies and it should be no surprise that there have been plenty of modern adaptations of it. First being produced at the beginning of the seventeenth century, the bard's most beloved comedy is still being built upon hundreds of years later. These adaptations are not beholden to just being a straight play like the original, there are some much loved musicals and films taking inspiration from Twelfth Night as well. The most recent adaptation is the full length musical of the same name from 2018 created by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, with the music also by Taub. The music is what makes the show different than just a basic retelling, since it is described as an "original jazz-funk score." Time called it one of the best theatrical productions in all of 2018 (concordtheatricals).  The musical was originally performed free of charge with Shakespeare in the Park with The Public Theater at the Dela...

Theatre Stage: The Globe - Built in 1599 in London  on the south bank of the river Thames by the company that Shakespeare was in. This theatre included a neutral platformed stage with a roof held up by pillars. There was a covered terrace for seating and an opening in the middle. This allowed for light, but still covered the stage and most of the seating in case of rain. The roof over the stage also could conceal any flown objects/actors. There was also a trapdoor featured in this stage. There was a two-story facade at the back of the stage. On the second floor, there was a terrace that was able to be used during performance. On the first floor, there is thought to have been three useable entrance/exit doors. Scenery & Props Large set pieces were not commonly used during this time. Some furniture was brought on stage for scenes that required them, such as chairs or a table that were accurate to the space the characters were meant to be in. The stage was kept neutral so determin...

  Viola (Cesario) A woman of Messaline and the twin sister of Sebastian. She is shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria, separated from her brother and afraid he may be dead. With the help of the Captain, she disguises herself as a page and takes on the name Cesario. She goes on to serve Duke Orsino, who orders Cesario to woo the Countess Olivia for him (who is in a seven year vow of grief). Not knowing she is a woman in disguise, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, all the while Viola has fallen in love with the Duke.  Sebastian- The twin brother of Viola, who also finds himself on the coast of Illyria. With the aid of Antonio, he finds himself in the kingdom of Orsino. This is where he stumbles upon Olivia who proposes to him (thinking him to be Cesario), though confused, he agrees.  Olivia- A beautiful and wealthy noble woman of Illyria who has lost her brother before the beginning of the play. She has vowed to herself to stay in mourning for seven years and refuses to ...