Week 10: 'What, Curio?'
April 5, 2012
6 January 2012
This week we went back to Twelfth Night. We haven't done a run of the play in three weeks. Luckily, the time away from the play didn't feel like a hindrance; it allowed the play to simmer in our minds, and for the ideas to mature.
As Curio, I enjoyed reinvestigating a line from Act II Scene iv. In this scene, Duke Orsino (played by Jonny McGuinness) demands:
'Give me some music…
Now good Cesario, but that piece of song,
That old antic song we heard last night:'
(1-3.)
Curio replies: 'He is not here, so please your lordship, that should sing it.' (8-9.)
I know it's just a line, 12 words, but humour me. I would argue this level of care and curiosity is required, especially with a play that has been performed and seen as many times as Twelfth Night has been.
The first time I delivered the line, I waited in silence, so the pressure was on Cesario (played by Emily Taaffe), coming in with the text later, to heighten the awkwardness of the moment.
The second time, I injected the line with spite and delivered it to Cesario, implying that the people who should be attending to Orsino are not being let in, but Cesario, who is incapable of fulfilling the request, is. This highlighted the resentment Curio harbours toward Cesario.
The third time, I delivered the line sympathetically to Cesario, as if I were trying to cover his ass.
The fourth time, I came in quick with the line and delivered it straight to Orsino.
After this run of the scene, Director David Farr told me he preferred the final version; Curio would only have eyes and ears for Orsino, and would try to get Orsino information as quickly as possible. Curio doesn't factor Cesario into his interactions with Orsino, because Cesario has only been in the household a few days, and as far as Curio is concerned, cannot meet Orsino's needs.
It was great that David gave me the space to try these different ways of delivering the line, and then was able to tell me what worked best for the scene. I now have a thorough understanding of why the line is being delivered the way it is, and what the alternatives choices could have been.
The interchange continues:
ORSINO: Who was it
CURIO: Feste the jester, my lord, a fool that the Lady
Olivia's father took much delight in. He is about the
house.
(10-13.)
David made a final adjustment to this part of the scene. The last part of Curio's line — 'He is about the house.' —was given to Valentine (played by Sargon Yelda). Though, like any actor, I hate to lose a line (however small), I think this was a good decision. The fact that Curio and Valentine both respond to Orsino's query highlights their tag-team approach to caring for Orsino.
Photo: Jamie Rocha Allan, Assistant Director Twelfth Night and The Tempest.
by Ankur Bahl
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