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From Amazon
One of Shakespeare's finest comedies, Twelfth Night, was written at the same time as Hamlet and Troilus and Cressida, and while it shares their fascination with sex, death and confused identities, its exuberant comedy and linguistic inventiveness rises above the introspection of these plays. Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated in a storm that washes them both up at different points on the shores of Illyria. Believing each other to be dead, both attempt to survive by using their wits. Viola cross-dresses and enters the service of the lovesick Orsino, in love with Olivia, an heiress in mourning for the loss of her brother. Orsino's saucy young page Cesario (Viola) soon falls in love with "his" master, who tells "him", "all is semblative a woman's part". Unfortunately, while Viola falls in love with Orsino, Olivia falls in love with her alter ego, Cesario, while also being pursued at the same time by her pompous servant Malvolio. Olivia's house is also turned upside down by the antics of her drunker uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and the whole crazy situation reaches boiling point when Sebastian reappears.
Despite the madcap plot, Twelfth Night remains one of Shakespeare's most complex and inventive comedies, fascinated with questions of cross-dressing, gender confusion, language and inversion, as well as retaining a darker edge to some of its laughter. --Jerry Brotton --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-William Shakespeare's comedy of disguised and deceptive love is entertainingly brought to listeners on these high-quality audiocassettes. Using the complete text from the New Cambridge Shakespeare text, the production presents a full cast of accomplished Shakespearean actors and actresses who skillfully convey the emotion and meaning, confusion and humor of this popular play. When twins Sebastian and Viola are shipwrecked and separated off the coast of Illyria, each believes the other is dead. Viola disguises herself as a boy, becomes a page of Duke Orsinio, and falls in love with him. The Duke is hopelessly in love with Olivia, but she is in the process of mourning her brother's death and becomes infatuated with Viola as she/he delivers messages for the Duke. When Sebastian shows up, Olivia confuses him with the Duke's page (Olivia) and marries the astonished young man. All is cleared up eventually when Viola and Sebatian meet and recognize each other. In the midst of all of this romantic confusion, servants and family members provide comic relief with their pompous, pretentious, and sometimes inebriated behavior. Early English music and excellent sound effects are sparingly included, yet add greatly to this performance. Reading along with the text is optional as the production moves at an easy-to-follow pace, and characterizations are clear and captivating. A booklet with background and a synopsis of the play, photos and descriptions of each cast member, and starting points for each scene on the proper tape side is a useful addition. For its entertainment value or as a supplement to the curriculum, this excellent audioplay is highly recommended.
Marilyn Higgins, Metuchen High School, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Marilyn Higgins, Metuchen High School, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A mid-range Shakespearean comedy.,
By
This review is from: Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will (Paperback)
There is very little here to set this play apart from the rest of Shakespeare's comedies, other than, perhaps, the fact that it has more of the usual comedic plot devices than usual. There is the cross-dressing woman who is fallen in love with by another woman, there are the twins separated, there are the usual litany of star-crossed lovers each in love with someone who doesn't requite their love (until, of course, the end; this being a comedy, everything must come out all right in the end.) All told, about the only memorable line from this play is "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them."A perfectly amusing bit of Shakespearean fluff, but there is little to recommend this play that wouldn't likewise recommend almost any of Shakespeare's comedies.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cross-dressers, Pranks, and Violence-who needs more?,
By Faulknernut "Faulknernut" (atlanta, georgia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Twelfth Night (Mass Market Paperback)
This is, by far, one of my most favorite Shakespeare plays. It's hilarious-probably the funniest I've read. Shakespeare has the nuttiest characters, such as Sir Toby and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who likes to drink and be silly more than anything else. Then there's Maria, the conniving servant, who fools Malvolio (the pompous servant) into thinking Olivia (the rich chick) is in love with him, and, of course, he makes a fool out of himself. On top of all that, there's Viola, a girl pretending to be a guy named Cesario, and Olivia falls in love with her/him. It's a hoot. The whole thing. Until my Shakespeare class, I had never even heard of this book, which is a surprise because it's so much better and so much more captivating than some of his other plays. A must read!!!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romantic Comedy "Twelfth Night",
By Ji hee, Kim (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Twelfth Night (Mass Market Paperback)
"Twelfth Night" is one of the famous romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare. Many critics said, "Twelfth Night" is the masterpiece among his comedy because his fully developed style and insight are in the "Twelfth Night", so it has special value and attractiveness.There are four main characters in "Twelfth Night" ; Duke Orsino, Olivia, Viola, and Sebastian. Duke Orsino who lives in Illyria loves Olivia, so every day he send one of his servant to Olivia's house for proposal of marriage. However, every time Olivia refuses his proposal for the reason that she lost her brother before long, so she is now in big sorrow and can not love anyone. One day, Viola comes into Illyria. She and her twin brother Sebastian are separated in a shipwreck and they are rescued by two different people in two different place, so they think the other one is dead each other. Viola disguise as a man and become a servant of Duke Orsino, and then she fall in love with Duke Orsino. But, Duke Orsino loves Olivia and he send Viola whose new name as a man is "Cesario" to Olivia for proposal. Unexpectedly, Olivia fall in love with Cesario!! Therefore, love triangle is formed. In the latter scene, Sebastian also come into Illyria, so the confusion getting worse. However, in the end, all misunderstandings are solved and Cesario become Viola, so the four main characters find their love. There are also four supporting characters in "Twelfth Night" ; Clown, Sir Toby Belch, Malvolio, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. They make the readers laugh through their funny behaviors and comments in subplot. "Twelfth Night" is very funny story and enjoyable book, so I recommend you.
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