Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a comedy written by William Shakespeare. It is one of his most popular plays and has been performed and adapted numerous times since it was first written in the early 17th century. The play centers around the character of Viola, who is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria and disguises herself as a man, Cesario, in order to work for the Duke Orsino. Viola/Cesario becomes involved in a love triangle with Orsino, who is in love with the Lady Olivia, and Olivia, who falls in love with Cesario.
One of the most notable adaptations of Twelfth Night is the 1996 film version directed by Trevor Nunn. Nunn is a highly respected theater and film director, known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. His film adaptation of Twelfth Night features an all-star cast, including Helena Bonham Carter as Olivia, Nigel Hawthorne as Malvolio, and Ben Kingsley as Feste.
Nunn's Twelfth Night is a visually stunning adaptation, with lavish sets and costumes that capture the opulence and grandeur of the play's setting. The film also features beautiful outdoor locations and a strong use of music, with songs and dances throughout the film that add to the overall atmosphere and atmosphere.
In terms of its interpretation of the play, Nunn's Twelfth Night stays true to the spirit of Shakespeare's original text. The characters are complex and fully realized, with strong performances from the entire cast. Nunn also brings a sense of playfulness and wit to the film, highlighting the comedic elements of the play and allowing the humor to shine through.
Overall, Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night is a delightful and faithful adaptation of Shakespeare's classic comedy. With its stunning visuals, strong performances, and faithful interpretation of the source material, it is a film that is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
Twelfth Night movie review & film summary (1996)
Shakespeare's comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves. Retrieved 11 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010. Pretending that Malvolio is insane, they lock him up in a dark chamber. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
Comedic Conflict and Love in Trevor Nunns Twelfth Night Essay on
Shakespeare and the Popular Tradition in the Theater: Studies in the Social Dimension of Dramatic Form and Function, p. They find Toby, sprawled drunkenly asleep against a stone statue, and when they bring him inside to Aguecheek- a rail thin, mustached redhead with bags under his eyes and yellow stockings on his legs- Toby's first instinct is to rip aside the curtains for more sunlight. Olivia is shocked by the changes in Malvolio and agreeing that he seems mad, leaves him to be cared for by his tormentors. The breakdown of Malvolio in the foyer of Olivias home brings to an end, for a brief moment, the comedic conflict that was present throughout the film. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. The 2006 romantic comedy Twelfth Night.
Viola strolls in confusion at the edge of the group as Sebastian approaches- "I'm sorry, madam"- from the opposite side. The lack of viewer sympathy for the comic relief characters bifurcates the movie, giving the viewer a relatively poorly done love story on the one hand and heartless sadism done by unlikable characters to pathetic ones on the other. Share this: Facebook Facebook logo Twitter Twitter logo Reddit Reddit logo LinkedIn LinkedIn logo WhatsApp WhatsApp logo Shakespeares Twelfth Night is a play overflowing with ambiguity in terms of tone, character portrayal, dialogue and meaning which gives directors of both screen and stage an immense amount of flexibility which over the years has given us many distinct visions of the same play. After Malvolio practices his smiles but can only force a gassy sneer, the three dance, jump, and exclaim to rising music, then run to fall on their knees and bow to Maria. This gives this film makers the excuse to turn every minor skirmish in the play into a full on battle, complete with mounted soldiers, regardless if it fits the pacing of the scene or seems utterly ridiculous.
Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night: A Failure Of Adaptation
The comedic conflict is further developed in Malvolios Puritanesque wardrobe of his suit and shoes. Fabian accepts the blame, then Feste descends the steps behind them, mocking Malvolio's letter- "some are born great, some achive greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them"- while wearing a toupee: "the whirligig of time brings in his revenges. The upshot of this time wasting is several important lines get cut. Nunn then cuts to both brother and sister singly approaching the other- "I had a sister"- in separate shots, until they finally reunite and embrace in the same frame, as music soars. In a nod to the shipwrecked opening of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the movie includes a scene where the character Viola, separated from her love by an arranged marriage and bound for the American colonies, survives a shipwreck and comes ashore to Virginia. Nunn's film, set at the very end of the Christmas holiday season, evokes looming maturity with imagery of burning leaves, late autumn colors, and vaporized breath in chilly air, but he eschews the more typical rise of the Puritan era- "there shall be no more cakes and ale"- with its moralistic closing of the theatres. Meanwhile, Viola's twin, Sebastian, has been rescued by Antonio, a sea captain who previously fought against Orsino, yet who accompanies Sebastian to Illyria, despite the danger, because of his admiration for Sebastian.
The comedic conflict of love occurs primarily within this love triangle of Olivia, Orsino and Viola. This illustration of brotherly love is also substantial in the relationship between Sebastian and Antonio. However, Maria plots to shake-up Malvolio, and allows him to misinterpret information about Olivia that suggests her love for Malvolio. This action is the first imperative step that leads to the undoing of several characters, primarily Malvolio. The film ends with both couples holding a party to celebrate their marriages, while the supporting players, including the humiliated Sir Andrew and Malvolio, leave the estate with their heads held high and Feste sings his song, "The Wind and the Rain". Feste closes the film with a song of the various stages of life, putting all of the profound meanings of life into this comedy.
Carter's energized Olivia seems brought back to life- "even so quickly may one catch the plague?. Bonham Carter, who has grown wonderfully as an actress, walks the thin line between love and comedy as she sighs for the fair youth who has come on behalf of the count. Malvolio and Sir Toby from William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', Act II, scene iii , Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria plan revenge on Malvolio. In 1943, Erich Korngold also set the songs "Adieu, Good Man Devil" Act IV, Scene 2 , "Hey, Robin" Act IV, Scene 2 , and "For the Rain, It Raineth Every Day" Act V, Scene 1 as a song cycle entitled Narrenlieder, Op. Nunn's wide-angled lens shows from a distance Andrew and Toby playing croquet, servants behind them on the lawn, one burning a pile of leaves and the other pushing a wheelbarrow. Filming the play brings an obvious problem: the point of much of both the comedy and the transcendence relies on the audience wearing the fact that Viola, disguised as a bloke, is the spitting image of her brother Sebastian.
When the smitten Sebastian kisses Olivia, the lust in her expression is palpable when she ponders the two identical versions of the man she loves: "most wonderful! Olivia is less capable of understanding the compassion of brotherly love and more compelled to express romance as a means of escape. Tables overturn as the ship begins to sink, and passengers rush to lifeboats, but Viola is washed overboard. The brawl is broken up by Carter's impassioned Olivia, who embraces Sebastian and buries her face in his chest, imploring him lovingly, and of course, this time the handsome young man acquiesces. When he learns of this, Orsino is furious and dismisses his page, whom he had made a friend and confidante. Although these love interests as well as the complicated web of relationships, represent romantic love, Nunn attempts to provide for another type of love within the story. The story: A great storm at sea capsizes a ship. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
Film Review Of Trevor Nunns Twelfth Night English Literature Essay
Howard; Katharine Eisaman Maus; Andrew Gurr 1997. Sir Toby Belch and Maria engage enthusiastically in the plot to gull a suitably self-satisfied Malvolio Nigel Hawthorne. Feste visits him to mock his insanity, both disguised as a priest and as himself. Sir Toby famously retorts, "Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale? The company of Twelfth Night, with the Globe's artistic director Interpretations of the role of Viola have been given by many well-renowned actresses in the latter half of the 20thcentury, and have been interpreted in the light of how far they allow the audience to experience the transgressions of stereotypical gender roles. Expertly cast and consistently well-played, the romance is delightful and the low comedy is at least amusing, with the two principals- Viola and Olivia- portrayed with particularly memorable charm.
