A&R Review: The Twelfth Night

Danielle Kronau, Arts & Rec Editor

The Twelfth Night was full of much humor and drama as this show was about a pair of twins, Viola and Sebastian, who were separated during a terrible thunderstorm. Once the storm passed, Viola, saved from the shipwreck, thinks her brother died. So, she decides to fend for herself by working as a page for Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, by dressing up as a boy.

From the moment Viola, who disguises her name as Cesario, meets Orsino, she immediately falls in love with him but hates that she has to court the Countess Olivia for him.

The Twelfth Night proved just how easily people can judge a book by its cover. From the very beginning, everyone believed Cesario to be a young man. However, she may have played her part a little too well as she inadvertently got Countess Olivia to fall in love with her when unwillingly trying to get the Countess to love Orsino.

The audience laughed at the back and forth between Ruth, Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aquecheeck, Fabian and Maria and their quarrels with Mavolio. It was tremendously hilarious as Cesario’s first encounter with the Countess Olivia took a different turn than was expected as the Countess thinks Cesario (Viola) was talking about himself as the master that liked her. From that moment on, it was clear from there on out that Cesario (Viola) would have bigger matters with the Countess than she would with the worry of being found out she was a boy by Orsino.

As the performance continued, the plot grew thicker as more conflicts arose for the main character, Cesario (Viola) not just with her against Olivia, but when Sebastian entered the scene and everyone started thinking and believing Sebastian to be Cesario. As this part of the plot continued, there was no hiding the confusion and conflict that ensued upon the characters.

It was an enjoyable night for the audience as the performance evoked laughter from the crowd and drama ensued between the characters. Although the dialogue was a little difficult to follow from time to time, the ideas were pretty clear in what the characters were saying and doing.   

For those who may not be a big fan of Shakespeare or his work, this performance would surely change that for one night. This performance was one that could put joy in anyone while at the same time, bring out laughter. For a night of wanting comic relief, this was surely the best way to go about it.