Twelfth Night

Synopsis

Or What You Will. Shakespeare comedy of mistaken identity, practical jokes and unrequited love. Rescued from a shipwreck the twins Viola and Sebastian arrive independently in Illyria, both thinking the other is drowned. Viola disguises herself as a boy and finds employment with the Duke who is in love with Olivia. Malvolio is the subject of a cruel joke played on him by Sir Toby Belch (yellow stockings cross-gartered) leading him to believe that Olivia loves him. But Olivia has fallen in love with the disguised Viola, while she is in love with the Duke (following it so far?!).

Our Review:

27 August 2004

This Bollywood version of Twelfth Night has already attracted bags of publicity and, for once, there is a real sense to the radically reworked staging. For example, the plot of separated twins, magically reunited, is a staple one within Indian cinema. And the emphasis on music and song – perhaps more than any other Shakespearean comedy – lends itself well to the Bollywood treatment.

And, although the Indian setting might be far removed from the play’s Elizabethan origins, Shakespeare carefully chose to set the action in the exotic Illyria, a place beyond the comprehension of most of his audience.

Director Stephen Beresford has assigned Feste as a wandering minstrel, a decision that makes some sort of sense. For a start, it explains how he crops up in Orsino and Olivia’s houses – although not why Olivia is so displeased by his disappearance. Crucially, it means that Feste emerges as a pivotal figure, fulfilling the same sort of commentary function a...

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Latest User Review

81.136.183.36) - 16 October 2004:

This was such a good idea, the play successfully transfers to India, the design serves it well and there are some good performances, but....somehow it doesn't come alive. I can't really put my finger on why. Maybe it's something to do with the role of Feste given more prominence (with the actor relentlessly upstaging and over-acting) - this somehow affects the balance of the play. All in all, a worthy project which didn't quite come off....

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