Performed May 2011

Shakespere`s comedy

Twelfth Nigh

 
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Directed by Gordon Gribbin and Sarah Ferris

The play is set in the imaginary country of Illyria, where

people are like people everywhere, only the weather is better.

 

Characters

 

  • Orsino - Head of the House of Orsino. A dreamy, sentimental lover of music and women. Male 20-40, articulate and self-absorbed (any males out there like that?), rich as.
  • Olivia - Head of the House of Olivia. Determined to mourn her dead brother but easily charmed by a pretty young man. Female 17-35, elegant, attractive to at least four men in the play. Playful. Bit of a poseur. Has tarty moments when in the presence of attractive males.
  • Viola - Twin sister of Sebastian, shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria and separated from her brother. Female, but able to look a bit boyish. 16-28. What Sarah would call androgynous. Lively, funny, intelligent, earnest.
  • Sebastian - Twin brother of Viola. Male16-30. Would help if he looked a bit like Viola. Energetic, with a sense of honour.
  • Sir Toby Belch - Drunken cousin of OIivia. Fond of wine, women and song. No respecter of authority. Tubby and burpy. 35-60. RSL drunk type but likeable in an offensive way.
  • Sir Andrew - A fashionable airhead, given to drinking, boasting and lusting after Olivia. Tall, thin, weedy. 18-48. A comical contrast with Sir Toby. Thinks of himself as fashionable, but he’s wrong.
  • Malvolio - Olivia’s head of household. A pompous, greedy fool who needs to be taken down a peg. Male, 30-60. The butt of jokes because he’s a pompous kill-joy, but able, in the end, to make the audience pity him.
  • Maria - A servant to Olivia and close friend of Sir Toby Belch. Invents a plot to bring Malvolio down to earth. Lively and intelligent, 25-47 ˝ , anti-authority, good friend and companion to Sir Toby.
  • Feste (aka CLOWN) –Jester and singer. NOT A CIRCUS CLOWN!!!!! More of a muso

with a cynical streak and a line in caustic humour.

Antonio – A sea captain who rescues and befriends Sebastian. Male, 20-93. Honest and competent.

Sea Captain – Rescues and befriends Viola. Male, 20-93. Honest and competent.

Curio (Or Curia if played by a female) – Member of House of Orsino. Male or female gofer. Any age. Some decent lines.

Valentine (Or Valentina if played by a lady) - Member of House of Orsino. Male or female gofer. Couple of lines.

Fabian (Or Fabia if played by a lady) Servant to Olivia. Male or female gofer. A few good lines and part of the main action.

Priest – A priest. Male 20-117. Pompous and unctuous (oily).

Musicians and servants and hangers-on. Well, you know what musos are like. Could be a little dancing for hangers-on.