MAJESTICPIECE THEATRE PRESENTS: TWELFTH NIGHT
by William Shakespeare
directed by Ellie Smith
Synopsis
A courageous noblewoman gets stranded in a strange land after a storm. She disguises herself as a man to serve a duke with whom she falls in love. This duke loves a countess who falls for said noblewoman as a man! Shenanigans ensue. Please join us for a virtual Shakespearean evening of love and laughter on the shores of Illyria!
From the Director
This show has a special place in my heart because I was born on Epiphany aka Twelfth Night. I was first introduced to it in a high school Shakespeare class in which I performed the iconic ring monologue for credit. The story stuck with me ever since and I have wanted to act in or direct it for some time now. I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity!
Please choose ONE of the following sides. Record a video on your phone or computer of you reading the side, and email it to ellianne106@gmail.com by 5PM on Monday, May 18th. Feel free to include what role you’re interested in within the body of the email. Some guidelines:
- Perform while seated, trying to frame yourself from the shoulders up. This is what you’ll look like in the video chat during the performance, so we’ll want to see how well you can emote in this limited space.
- Props and costume pieces are encouraged! Whatever you have lying around. Just keep in mind that we can only see your torso and head!
- Actors of any gender, age, race, or ability are invited to audition for any role. We will be casting 12 performers and one Emergency Backup Actor, an understudy for all roles who can hop into the digital performance at any time to cover for another actor who might be experiencing technical difficulties.
- In order to participate in the performance, you’ll need a stable internet connection; a smartphone, computer, or tablet that can run Zoom; and a pair of headphones.
- If you have any questions, feel free to email and ask!
SIDES
OLIVIA
Olivia has just met Viola (who is at the moment dressed in male-presenting garb) for the first time. Olivia realizes she’s developing a serious crush.
'What is your parentage?'
'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well:
I am a gentleman.' I'll be sworn thou art;
Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions and spirit,
Do give thee five-fold blazon: not too fast: soft, soft!
Unless the master were the man. How now!
Even so quickly may one catch the plague?
Methinks I feel this youth's perfections
With an invisible and subtle stealth
To creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be.
What ho, Malvolio!
VIOLA
Viola just left Olivia’s presence. She was sent to woo Olivia for Duke Orsino, but she can tell that now Olivia has the hots for her instead. Whoops!
I left no ring with her: what means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!
She made good view of me; indeed, so much,
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none.
I am the man: if it be so, as 'tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master's love;
As I am woman,-now alas the day!—
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
O time! thou must untangle this, not I;
It is too hard a knot for me to untie!
MARIA
Maria is planning to trick Malvolio with her friends, Toby and Andrew, by writing a fake letter from Olivia and leaving it for him to find.
I will drop in his way some obscure epistles of love; wherein, by the color of his beard, the shape of his leg, the manner of his gait, the expressure of his eye, forehead, and complexion, he shall find himself most feelingly personated. I can write very like my lady your niece: on a forgotten matter we can hardly make distinction of our hands.
Sport royal, I warrant you: I know my physic will work with him. I will plant you two, and let the fool make a third, where he shall find the letter: observe his construction of it. For this night, to bed, and dream on the event. Farewell.
DUKE ORSINO
Duke Orsino is pining for Olivia, who has shown zero interest in him. He’s speaking to Viola, who is, he thinks, his newest manservant. He doesn’t realize Viola is in disguise.
There is no woman's sides
Can bide the beating of so strong a passion
As love doth give my heart; no woman's heart
So big, to hold so much; they lack retention
Alas, their love may be called appetite,
But mine is all as hungry as the sea,
And can digest as much: make no compare
Between that love a woman can bear me
And that I owe Olivia.
MALVOLIO
Malvolio is reading a fake letter that he thinks is from the woman he has a crush on.
'If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. Thy Fates open their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them;
and, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be, cast thy humble slough and appear fresh. Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants; let thy tongue tang arguments of state; put thyself into the trick of singularity: she thus advises thee that sighs for thee. Remember who commended thy yellow stockings , and wished to see thee ever cross-gartered: I say, remember. Go to, thou art made, if thou desirest to be so; if not, let me see thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and not worthy to touch Fortune's fingers. Farewell. She that would alter services with thee,
THE FORTUNATE-UNHAPPY.'
SIR TOBY BELCH
Toby is trying to encourage his friend Andrew to keep pursuing Olivia (despite the fact that she isn’t interested in Andrew at all).
She did show favor to the youth in your sight, only to exasperate you, to awake your dormouse valor, to put fire in your Heart, and brimstone in your Liver: you should then have accosted her, this was looked for at your hand, and this was balked. Challenge me the Counts youth to fight with him, hurt him in eleven places, my Niece shall take note of it, and assure thy self, there is no love- Broker in the world, can more prevail in man’s commendation with woman, than report of valor.
FESTE
Feste the fool is displaying their witty logic as to why Olivia should not continue to mourn her brother so ostentatiously.
Two faults, Madonna, that drink and good counsel will amend: for give the dry fool drink, then is the fool not dry: bid the dishonest man mend himself; if he mend, he is no longer dishonest; if he cannot, let the botcher mend him. Anything that's mended is but patched: virtue that transgresses is but patched with sin; and sin that amends is but patched with virtue. If that this simple syllogism will serve, so; if it will not, what remedy? As there is no true cuckold but calamity, so beauty's a flower. The lady bade take away the fool; therefore, I say again, take her away.