Twelfth Night or… What You Will
In the style of a louche cabaret singer, Feste (James Clyde) introduces the play using its twin titles.
- Act and Scene
- Pre Act 1 Scene1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/2007
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
The coast of Illyria
An on-stage transformation: Duke Orsino's house guests change into oiled coats to become shipwrecked sailors.
- Act and Scene
- Act 1 Scene1/2 changeover
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent.
Viola (Chris New) asks the captain of the wrecked ship (Tim Chipping) to assist in disguising her as a man. The play's theme of disguise to conceal gender is further confused by Viola's character being played by a male.
- Act and Scene
- Act 1 Scene 2
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
For they shall yet belie thy happy years that say thou art a man. Diana's lip is not more smooth and rubious.
Believing the cross-dressed Viola (Chris New) to be male, Duke Orsino (Jason Merrells) confuses her feminine looks with those of a pre-pubescent boy. This double-vision of reality and appearance pervades the play.
- Act and Scene
- Act 1 Scene 4
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Look you, sir, such a one I was this present. Is't not well done?
Disguised as Cesario, Viola (Chris New) woos Olivia (Justine Mitchell) on behalf of Orsino. Intrigued by the boy, Olivia is persuaded to remove her mourning veil.
- Act and Scene
- Act 1 Scene 5
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Make me a willow cabin at your gate, and call upon my soul within the house.
Viola's (Chris New) own feelings for Orsino are echoed as she describes how she would make Olivia (Justine Mitchell) take pity on her and return her love if she was the unrequited duke. Willow was a traditional symbol of rejected love.
- Act and Scene
- Act 1 Scene 5
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Come, sir, you peevishly threw it to her; and her will is, it should be so returned.
In a ploy to see him again, Olivia pretends that Cesario (Chris New) has left the duke's ring behind and sends Malvolio (John Lithgow) to return it.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 2
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
None of my lord's ring! Why, he sent her none. I am the man.
Viola (Chris New) realises that Olivia has fallen in love with her in her disguise as Cesario. Later in this soliloquy, Viola explores the dilemma of the gender confusions, concluding that time will sort things out - another of the play's themes.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 2
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
How now, my hearts. Did you never see the picture of 'we three'?
Feste (James Clyde) joins in the drunken tomfoolery of Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Annabel Leventon) and Sir Toby Belch (Marjorie Yates).
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 3
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
But shall we make the welkin dance indeed?
Feste (James Clyde), Sir Toby Belch (Marjorie Yates) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Annabel Leventon) continue their raucous revelry. They are eventually interrupted by Malvolio.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 3
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm, more longing, wavering, sooner lost and worn, than women's are.
Orsino (Jason Merrells) expounds on the fickleness of males to Cesario (Chris New). Later in the scene he reverses this viewpoint, claiming that women 'lack retention', thus illustrating his own changeable nature.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 4
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
By my life, this is my lady's hand.
Malvolio (John Lithgow) finds the letter left as a trap by Maria and, as intended, believes it to be written by Olivia.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 5
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
And the end… if I could make that resemble something in me. Softly - M.O.A.I.
Watched secretly by Sir Toby (Marjorie Yates) and Sir Andrew (Annabel Leventon), Malvolio (John Lithgow) convinces himself that he is the subject of 'Olivia's' letter.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 5
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
For every reason excites to this, that my lady loves me.
Malvolio (John Lithgow) is caught up in narcissistic, socially ambitious fantasies, which make him oblivious to the presence of the barely concealed conspirators, Sir Toby (Marjorie Yates) Sir Andrew (Annabel Leventon) and Fabian (Joanne Howarth).
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 5
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
I will smile, I will do everything that thou wilt have me.
Malvolio (John Lithgow) practises the smile he will present to Olivia, as instructed in the letter.
- Act and Scene
- Act 2 Scene 5
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth, and that no woman has, nor never none shall mistress be of it save I alone.
Olivia (Justine Mitchell) declares her love to Cesario, but in rejecting this love Viola (Chris New) uses duplicitous language: she tells the truth but hides her meaning.
- Act and Scene
- Act 3 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Remember who commended thy yellow stockings… and wished to see thee cross-gartered.
Malvolio (John Lithgow) quotes Olivia's letter at her to explain his appearing before her in a style that she 'abhors' and 'detests', something Maria well knew when she forged the letter.
- Act and Scene
- Act 3 Scene 4
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
How now, mistress?
Sir Toby (Marjorie Yates) and Maria (Siobhan Redmond) attempt to placate Malvolio (John Lithgow) at the behest of Olivia who believes him to be mad.
- Act and Scene
- Act 3 Scene 4
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Go hang yourselves, all. You are idle shallow things, I am not of your element.
Convinced of his own social superiority, Malvolio (John Lithgow) dismisses the attempts of Fabian (Joanne Howarth), Maria (Siobhan Redmond) and Sir Toby (Marjorie Yates) to calm him down.
- Act and Scene
- Act 3 Scene 4
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
I do assure you 'tis against my will.
For fun, Sir Toby (Marjorie Yates) and Fabian (Joanne Howarth) goad Sir Andrew (Annabel Leventon) and Cesario (Chris New) into a duel. Viola is spared by the arrival of Antonio, who believes she is Sebastian and intervenes on her behalf.
- Act and Scene
- Act 3 Scene 4
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Why, there's for thee, and there, and there.
Watched by Sir Toby (Marjorie Yates) and Fabian (Joanne Howarth), Sir Andrew (Annabel Leventon) strikes Sebastian (Iain McKee) believing him to be Cesario and wanting to complete the duel. As Sebastian fights for real, Sir Andrew comes off the worse.
- Act and Scene
- Act 4 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
What relish is in this? How runs the stream? Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.
In a suspension moment, Sebastian (Iain McKee) steps out of the scene, entranced by Olivia's (Justine Mitchell) overtures to him. These moments in this production were marked by changes of lighting, music and movement.
- Act and Scene
- Act 4 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
They have laid me here in hideous darkness
Malvolio (John Lithgow) complains of his plight to Feste (James Clyde) who is pretending to be Sir Topas the curate. 'Darkness' here refers to both the lack of light in Malvolio's prison and to his ignorance.
- Act and Scene
- Act 4 Scene 2
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Here comes the man, sir, that did rescue me
Viola (Chris New) identifies her rescuer, Antonio (Simon Merrells), who is restrained by officers (Daniel Francis and Tom Davey). Antonio believes she is Sebastian, and the plot moves towards the height of its confusion.
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
He's broke my head across, and has given Sir Toby a bloody coxcomb too.
Orsino (Jason Merrells) and the parlourmaid (Rachael Spence) look on as Sir Andrew (Annabel Leventon) bemoans his fate to Olivia (Justine Mitchell) having been soundly beaten (so he thinks) by Cesario.
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Of charity, what kin are you to me? What countryman? What name? What parentage?
Sebastian (Iain McKee) and Viola (Chris New) see one another for the first time as the plot moves towards denouement.
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
'By the Lord, madam, you wrong me, and the world shall know it.'
Fabian (Joanne Howarth) reads Malvolio's letter to Olivia (Justine Mitchell).
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Here is my hand. You shall from this time be your master's mistress.
Antonio (Simon Merrells) looks on as Orsino (Jason Merrells) proposes to Viola.
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
The twins
The use of two male actors with similar looks and stature has great impact when the twins, Sebastian (Iain McKee) and Viola (Chris New) are finally reunited.
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned…tell me why?
Malvolio (John Lithgow) having at last been released, is bewildered by his cruel treatment, and introduces a melancholy note into the festive resolution of the play.
- Act and Scene
- Act 5 Scene 1
- Credit
- Hugo Glendinning
- Date
- 01/09/07
- Copyright
- © RSC 2007
