Twelfth Night
Dates of performance
9th JANUARY 1998
Director’s Note
In this production of ‘Twelfth Night’, we wanted to reflect something of ourselves as South Africans. We started by asking ourselves: What id Illyria was the Western Cape? What if Count Orsino and Lady Olivia were roughing it down the Breede
River Mouth over thee Christmas Holidays………..? We had enormous fun answering the questions that sprang out of this!
Synopsis
In a violent storm, a shipwrecked Viola is washed up on the shores of a coastal town. Together with the sea captain from the wrecked ship they resolve to disguise Viola as a young boy Cesario in order that she might seek employment with Orsino, a wealthy business man on holiday in the little sea town and old acquaintance of her father.
Act 1
Orsino is desperately courting Olivia. His messengers however, find little reward, as Olivia is indulgently mourning the death of her brother. In a final effort he sends Cesario, the boy newly come into his employment. Meanwhile , Olivia’s uncle Toby Belch, caring nothing for Olivia’ mourning is employing his time drinking with Olivia’s clown Feste and Andrew Aguecheek, a wealthy but foolish and faint hearted suitor to Olivia. As their drinking money comes largely from Andrew’s fortune, Toby undertakes to maintain Andrew’s suit for Olivia, ensuring his continued stay in town. At the arrival of Cesario, Olivia once again refuses to entertain the advances of Orsino. Ironically enough though, she falls passionately in love with the envoy, the disguised Viola, and sends Malvolio after the messenger with her ring, to entice his return.
Act 11
Sebastian, Viola’s supposedly drowned brother, has been saved from drowning by the sea captain, Antonio. Together they arrive in the town and set off to explore. Meanwhile, Maria, Toby and Andrew set a plot in motion to embarrass the conceited Malvolio. With a forged letter, he is encouraged to present himself before Olivia in an outrageous fashion. He grasps at the opportunity to rise in status and leaves, determined to follow the letters instructions in every detail. Finally, Orsino once again sends Cesario off to gain Olivia’s affection
Act111
Cesario arrives to be confronted by a passionate declaration of love from Olivia. While Toby, fearing that Andrew will leave town in disgust at his resolved suit, prods his faint –hearted friend into challenging the youth upon whom Olivia is doting. Antonio parts from Sebastian, lending him his purse and promising to meet him later. Meanwhile, the plot on Malvolio comes to a climax. His unaccountable antics lead Olivia to the conclusion that he has gone mad, and gets him comitted to a ‘dark room’. With Malvolio out of the way, Toby presses the fearful Andrew and Cesario into a fight. They are interrupted however by Antonio, rushing to the rescue of what he considers I his friend Sebastian.
Act 1V
Seeing Cesario so timid, Andrew rushes off to complete the duel. He encounters Sebastian however, who readily fights, wounding both him and Toby, who has had to rush to his rescue. Olivia interferes and mistaking Sebastian for Cesario, sends for the priest and marries the astonished young man. At Maria’s suggestion, the clown completes the plot against Malvolio by disguising himself as the priest and agreeing the steward unmercifully.
Act V
Orsino, with the disguised Viola and other attendants, appears before Olivia’s house just as the arrested Antonio is brought to him. Orsino supports Cesario’s claim that e does not have the captain’s purse, but turns on him savagely when Olivia addresses Cesario as husband. Amidst t the confusion, the bleeding Toby and Andrew arrive, accusing Cesario of wounding them. Finally, the appearance of the twin brother clears up the mystery, and only the recently released Malvolio seems dissatisfied with the resolution of the lover’s relationships.
Cast List
| ORSINO | Duke of Illyria | PETER BUTLER |
| SEBASTIAN | Brother of Viola | LANGLEY KIRKWOOD |
| ANTONIO | Sea Captain | TERENCE BRIDGETT |
| SEA CAPTAIN | Friend to Viola | DAVID ISAACS |
| VALENTINE | Gentleman attending to Duke | ATKIN OMOTOSO |
| CURIO | Gentleman attending to Duke | EMILE SERFONTEIN |
| SIR TOBY BELCH | Uncle to Olivia | GAVIN VAN DEN BERG |
| SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK | KURT WUSTMANN | |
| MALVOLIO | Steward to Olivia | DAVID DENNIS |
| FABIAN | LEE-ANN VAN ROOI | |
| 1 st OFFICER | JACKSON VUKA | |
| OLIVIA | MICHELE BURGERS | |
| VIOLA | BO PETERSEN | |
| MARIA | JUNE VAN MERCH | |
| CHILDMINDER | NOMZAMO SISUBU | |
| CLOWN | IVAN LUCAS |
Creative List
| STAGE DIRECTOR | CLARE STOPFORD |
| PRODUCTION MANAGER | ISAK BASSADIEN |
| PROJECT MANAGER | BRIAN HEYDENRYCH |
| STAGE MANAGER | KIM GUNNING |
| ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER | INA VERMEULEN, LINDSAY REDMAN |
| MUSIC COMPOSITION | DAVID KRAMER |
| CHOREOGRAPHY | ALFRED HINKEL |
| POSTER DESIGN | PETER CAZALET |
| PROGRAMME DESIGN | SARITA VENTER |
| ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS | INA VERMEULEN & LINDSAY REDMAN |
| DESIGNER | PETER CAZALET |
| LIGHTING DESIGN | MALCOLM HURELL |
| COSTUME CO-ORDINATORS | OLGA MARAIS, JULIE TINDILL |
