Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 4 (part 3)

*sings* This is the scene that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends....

Hey, people who have played Sir Toby... leave me a note explaining what Sir Toby's motivation is for messing with people, because from where I'm sitting it just looks like Sir Toby is a jerk. 

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3|2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1 | 3.1, part 2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4, part 1 | 3.4, part 2 | 3.4, part 3

Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 4 (part 2)

Let's keep plugging away at The Scene That Never Ends! When we last left our heroes, Malvolio was busy making a fool of himself in front of Olivia...

OK, he might be lurking in the background like some sort of third wheel, but Fabian is my Most Valuable Player in this scene. First of all, he's got the great meta-theatrical line: "If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbably fiction." It's basically a giant, knowing wink to the audience that screams "SEE WHAT I DID THERE?"

He also has one of my all-time favorite bad puns: "Is't so saucy?" This never gets as big a laugh in performance as I want it to get. I love an unapologetic bad pun, and Fabian is the master here.

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3|2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1 | 3.1, part 2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4, part 1 | 3.4, part 2

Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 4 (part 1)

OK, so, Act 3 Scene 4 of Twelfth Night  is a monster. It just keeps going on and on and on and all the plots get tangled up in it. So it's going to take me a while to get through it. Bear with me, and let's start with seeing how Malvolio's ill-advised wooing of Olivia goes...

CHECK OUT THAT GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOR ON MALVOLIO'S STOCKINGS. IS THAT ART OR WHAT?

....don't answer that. 

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3|2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1 | 3.1, part 2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4, part 1

Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 3

OK, we've spent a lot of time with Viola/Cesario, so let's take a quick moment to check in with her totally-not-drowned identical twin brother, who is roaming around. 

YOU'D BETTER TELL HIM AGAIN, ANTONIO. I DON'T THINK HE HEARD YOU.

Seriously, Sebastian is totally leading Antonio on. Poor old Antonio. 

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3|2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1 | 3.1, part 2 | 3.2 | 3.3

Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 2

THE PLOT SO FAR: Olivia is busy mooning over Cesario, which has upset Sir Andrew, who is only hanging out and drinking with Sir Toby because Sir Toby has convinced him that he can successfully woo Olivia. He can't, because he's an idiot, but nobody wants to tell him this. 

Let's be honest... Sir Andrew is one of those people who would look up if you told the someone had written "gullible" on the ceiling.

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3|2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1 | 3.1, part 2 | 3.2

Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 1 (part 2)

THE STORY SO FAR: Olivia has fallen in love with Cesario, who is actually Viola dressed as a boy. Viola is in love with Orsino, who is in love with Olivia, who refuses to take "no" for an answer, and everyone is just really confused.

Oh Olivia. You're adorable. 

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3 |2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1 | 3.1, part 2

Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 1 (part 1)

With all the excitement over Malvolio's letter last week, you'd be forgiven for forgetting the "main" plot of Twelfth Night is about this girl dressed as a boy who is wooing a woman who is in love with him/her on behalf of the man who she/he secretly loves.

Got it? 

Poor Sir Andrew just can't win. 

Dramatis Personae | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5, part 1 | 1.5, part 2 | 1.5, part 3 |2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3, part 1 | 2.3, part 2 | 2.4, part 1 | 2.4, part 2 | 2.5, part 1 | 2.5, part 2 | 3.1, part 1