STLTODAY.COM/GO • AE@POST-DISPATCH.COM • SUNDAY • 05.19.2013 • D • A&E
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William Shakespeare’s
TWELFTH If music be the food
GRAPHICS BY BUZZMACHINE STUDIOS www.buzzmachinestudios.com jtelford@buzzmachinestudios.com
TEXT BY JUDITH NEWMARK Post-Dispatch Theater Critic jnewmark@post-dispatch.com
“T
welfth Night” has all you could want in a Shakespeare comedy: cross-dressing, mixed-up twins, a wise clown and plenty of weddings at the end. Rick Dildine — the executive and artistic director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis — directs “Twelfth Night,” the festival’s 13th annual show under the stars in Forest Park. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy yourself — including the story.
on. y a l of love, p
Cast of characters
Viola
Sebastian
A perfectly Viola’s pretty marvelous girl marvelous twin
1 Shipwreck on the
Orsino
Duke of Illyria and hopeless romantic
Sir Toby Belch
Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Olivia’s lusty uncle
5 Once “Cesario” leaves, Olivia hands Malvolio a ring to give him. Run fast and catch up! Olivia pretends “Cesario” gave the ring to her and she’s sending it back. What a lie! She wants to give “Cesario” an excuse to come back to her.
Olivia
Malvolio
Maria
4 Determined to mourn her brother for
seven years, Olivia won’t even listen to the clown, Feste. She won’t marry anybody! But she agrees to hear the page — and falls for “Cesario” AT FIRST SIGHT!
Feste
Olivia’s pompous steward
Illyrian countess, Olivia's clever Toby’s foppish mourning for lady-in-waiting friend her brother
A clown
shores of Illyria! Viola survives but her twin brother, Sebastian, is missing. She hopes he somehow survived as well. It would be a miracle.
Antonio
A seaman
3 Orsino is obsessed with Olivia, who won’t even talk to him. But he likes this charming newcomer at once and makes “him” a page. “Cesario” takes to the Duke, too — AT FIRST SIGHT. But Orsino doesn’t know she’s a girl — and sends her to Olivia with another marriage proposal. What a job!
2 A young woman isn’t safe on her
own in a strange place. Viola disguises herself as a boy, names herself “Cesario,” and goes to find the duke, Orsino.
ILLYRIA
6 Sebastian did survive the
7 Sir Toby and Maria always have fun at Olivia’s house. So
14 Olivia is surprised to see Malvolio,
13 Antonio has powerful
shipwreck. He and Antonio, a seaman who saved his life, made it to Illyria, too. But Sebastian thinks his twin sister, Viola, died at sea.
8 Maria forges a letter that
does Sir Andrew, the man Toby wants Olivia to marry. But Malvolio doesn’t approve of their drinking and singing — Oh, no, he certainly does not! After Malvolio scolds them, Maria tells her pals she knows how to get back at him.
all smiles in yellow stockings and crisscross garters. He doesn’t make any sense, either. Poor Malvolio must have lost his mind!
enemies in Illyria. He gives Sebastian his wallet and they make plans to eat later.
12 Sir Andrew is ready to give
10 Malvolio finds the forged letter.
visits, Olivia doesn’t even try to lie. She admits it — she’s in love!
He’s thrilled! He’ll do everything he thinks Olivia wants him to do — even though she wants him to wear weird clothes and smile all time.
?
15 Andrew challenges “Cesario,” but they’re both too scared to fight. When Antonio sees what’s happening, he rushes in to help “Sebastian.” He wins but gets arrested, so he asks for his money back. “Cesario” doesn’t know what he means. Who does he think she is. Wait! Could it be?
16 When Olivia finds Sebastian
with Feste, she’s so happy to see “Cesario,” she professes her love! And Sebastian falls AT FIRST SIGHT! Let’s get married!
17 Disguised as a priest, Feste visits
“insane” Malvolio in the cell where Maria and Toby put him “for his own protection.” Even Toby starts to think they went too far.
?
He storms off by himself. Feste sings a reminder of how life and the theater go: “We’ll strive to please you every day.”
lovesick Orsino, who talks to “Cesario” about his feelings. “Cesario” also has lots to say about love. He learned from his “sister.”
11 The next time “Cesario”
up, but Toby tells him to be a man. Challenge that page to a duel! That’ll impress Olivia.
?
22 Malvolio doesn’t marry anybody.
9 Meanwhile, Feste sings to comfort
makes it sound as if Olivia secretly loves Malvolio. She and her pals plant it in just the right spot.
21 Sebastian has married Olivia! Toby has married Maria! Orsino will marry Viola as soon as she puts on a dress!
20 As soon as Sebastian rushes in to
apologize to his bride for hurting her kinsman, the twins stare at each other in joy!
?
18 As “Cesario” tells Orsino how Antonio
helped in the fight, Olivia is relieved to see her new “husband.” She couldn’t find him! “What are you talking about?” “Cesario” asks. We aren’t married!
?
?
19 Andrew stumbles in, bleeding. “Cesario” just wounded him and Toby in another fight. Impossible! “Cesario” is standing right there!
IF YOU GO
Where • Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, near the St. Louis Art Museum When • 8 p.m. Previews are May 22 and 23, runs May 24-June 16, every night but Tuesdays. Preshow entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m. How much • Free More info • sfstl.com Seating • Bring a blanket or lawn chair, or rent a chair ($7-10) Food • Bring your favorite picnic, or buy food from the vendors. Other vendors sell souvenirs. See more Shakespeare pages at stltoday.com/shakespeare.
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