Twelfth Night (2007) Festival Theatre / Chichester, U.K. Producer: Chichester Festival Playwright: William Shakespeare Cast: Patrick Stewart, Paul Shelley, Kate Fleetwood, Martin Turner, Michael Feast, Scott Handy, Ben Carpenter, Mark Rawlings, Tim Treloar, Bill Nash, Christopher Knott, Christopher Patrick Nolan, Hywel John, Suzanne Burden, Polly Frame, Niamh McGrady, Laura Rees, Oliver Birch Character: Malvolio

Orsino, the Duke of lllyria,is in love with his neighbour, the Countess Olivia. She has sworn to avoid men's company for seven years while she mourns the death of her brother, so rejects him. Nearby a group of sailors arrive on shore with a young woman, Viola, who has survived a shipwreck in a storm at sea. Viola mourns the loss of her twin brother but decides to dress as a boy to get work as a page to Duke Orsino.

Despite his rejection Orsino sends his new page Cesario (Viola in disguise) to woo Olivia on his behalf. Viola goes unwillingly as she has already fallen in love at first sight with the duke. Olivia is attracted by the 'boy' and she sends her pompous steward, Malvolio, after him with a ring.

Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, her servant Maria, and Sir Toby's friend, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is also hoping to woo Olivia, and is being led on by Sir Toby, who is trying to fleece him of his money, all plot to expose the self-love of Malvolio. By means of a false letter they trick him into thinking his mistress Olivia loves him. Malvolio appears in yellow stockings and cross-garters, smiling as they have told him to in the letter. Unaware of the trick the Countess is horrified and has Malvolio shut up in the dark as a madman.

Orsino's fool, Feste, brings a letter from Malvolio and on his release the conspirators confess to having written the false letter. Malvolio departs promising revenge.

This production runs from 7/14 - 8/31/07.

Related links:
Review (7/29/2007) — The Observer
Interview (7/29/2007) — The Observer
Review (7/24/2007) — Guardian
Review (7/24/2007) — Independent
Review (7/24/2007) — London Times
Review (7/23/2007) — The Stage
Review (7/23/2007) — Telegraph
Review (7/23/2007) — Evening Standard
Review (7/23/2007) — WhatsOnStage.com
Review (7/23/2007) — The Public Reviews
Twelfth Night Podcast (7/21/2007) — Chichester Festival
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