Photographer:Tatjana Blank | From left: Otto, Carl and Swar. Photographer:Tatjana Blank | Otto Photographer:Tatjana Blank | From left: Saraswati and Elke Photographer:Tatjana Blank | From left: Saraswati and Ruslan Photographer:Tatjana Blank | From left: Krishna and Emanuel Photographer:Tatjana Blank | Jeff Photographer:Tatjana Blank | From left: Otto and Srimoi
07 Dec / 2012Program by:

TWELFTH NIGHT or What You Will

The Auroville Theater Group with visiting director Haiimanot Alemu from Ethiopia put on the stage of Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas in International Zone, William Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night” or “What You Will”. This classical comedy was set in 18th century of India by beautiful costumes made by Kiran, although spoken dialogues were kept to the original version of Shakespeare’s play, and language. The play is being performed for three nights – tonight and tomorrow as the last performance.

THE AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUPpresents

TWELFTH NIGHT or What You Will

by William Shakespeare.

at the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas

Dec. 7, 8 and 9, 2012

7:30 p.m.

The cast:

Ruslan Orsino, Duke of Illyria

Emanuele Sebastian, brother of Viola

Krishna Antonio a sea captain and Sebastians friend

Rena Valentine / Servant and Tanya Curio attending on the Duke

Otto Sir Toby Belch, Olivias uncle

Swar Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a suitor to Olivia

Jeff Malvolio, Olivias steward

Masha Fabian, Olivias attendant

Carl Feste, the clown

Elke Olivia, a countess

Saraswati Viola, sister of Sebastian

Srimoyi Maria, Olivias waiting gentlewoman

Monika a gentlewoman, attending on Olivia

Thananayan and Murugan V Officers

Joachim Sea Captain and Priest

* * * *

Lighting Design by Jean L.

Costume Design by Kiran with Lively Boutique

Set Design by Jill, Inge K., Haimanot and others

Stage Manager Jill

Production Manager and Carpentry Thanajayan

Rapiers and Fencing Arseny

Directed by Haimanot Alemu

PLOT SUMMARY:

Like many of Shakespeares comedies, this one centres on mistaken identity. The leading character, Viola, is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria during the opening scenes. She loses contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she believes to be dead. Masquerading as a young page under the name Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino through the help of the sea captain who rescues her. Orsino has convinced himself that he is in love with the bereaved Lady Olivia, whose father and brother have recently died, and who will have nothing to do with any suitors, the Duke included. Orsino decides to use “Cesario” as an intermediary to tell Olivia about his love for her. Olivia, believing Viola to be a man, falls in love with this handsome and eloquent messenger. Viola, in turn, has fallen in love with the Duke, who also believes Viola is a man, and who regards her as his confidant.

Much of the play is taken up with the comic subplot, in which several characters conspire to make Olivia’s pompous head steward, Malvolio, believe that his lady Olivia wishes to marry him. It involves Olivia’s uncle Sir Toby Belch; another would-be suitor, a silly squire named Sir Andrew Aguecheek; her servants Maria and Fabian; and her father’s favourite fool, Feste. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew get drunk and disturb the peace of their lady’s house by continuously singing songs late into the night at the top of their voices, prompting Malvolio to chastise them. This provokes Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria to plan revenge on Malvolio.

The riotous company convinces Malvolio that Olivia is secretly in love with him through a love letter written by Maria in Olivia’s hand asking Malvolio to wear yellow stockings cross-gartered, to be rude to the rest of the servants, and to smile constantly in the presence of Olivia. Malvolio finds the letter and reacts in surprised delight. He starts acting out the contents of the letter to show Olivia his positive response. Olivia, saddened by Viola’s attitude towards her, asks for her chief steward, and is shocked by a Malvolio who has seemingly lost his mind. She leaves him to the contrivances of his tormentors.

Pretending that Malvolio is insane, they lock him up in a dark cellar (a common “treatment” for the mentally ill). Feste visits him to mock his “insanity”, once disguised as a priest, and again as himself. At the end of the play Malvolio learns of their conspiracy and storms off promising revenge, but the Duke sends Fabian to pacify him.

Meanwhile Sebastian arrives on the scene, sowing confusion. Mistaking him for Viola, Olivia asks him to marry her, and they are secretly united. Finally, when the twins appear in the presence of both Olivia and the Duke, there is more wonder and awe at their similarity, at which point Viola reveals she is really a female and that Sebastian is her lost twin brother. The play ends in a declaration of marriage between the Duke and Viola, and it is learned that Toby has married Maria. An elegiac song from Feste (“heigh-ho, the wind and the rain”) brings the entertainment to a close.

The Auroville Theatre Group is a unit of SAIIER (The Sri Aurobindo International Institute for Educational Research)

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