Twelfth Night: Act 5, Scene 1 (part 3)

We're halfway through the last scene of Twelfth Night and the revelations are coming fast!

Spare a thought for Sir Andrew, who is totally shot down by his erstwhile friend here. He's got one of the more melancholy resolutions of the play. He needs a hug.

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Twelfth Night: Act 5, Scene 1 (part 2)

Let's continue wrapping up those plot threads!

It'd be nice to think that Orsino is just being melodramatic when he threatens to kill Cesario (or, depending on how you read it, Olivia). But the guy has not shown himself to be particularly steady and rational up to now, so... yeah... 

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Twelfth Night: Act 5, Scene 1 (part 1)

All right, we've made it to Act 5 and you know what that means! Yes, it's Wrapping Up All The Disparate Plot Threads time! Let's do this!

Viola here misses another opportunity to ask "HEY can you tell me more about this person whom you saved from drowning who happens to look just like me when I'm dressing up like my twin brother whom I lost at sea?"

Also, I love the phrase "notable pirate". Try using it in your everyday conversation. It's a lot of fun.

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 | 3.4, part 4 | 3.4, part 5 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3

Twelfth Night: Act 4, Scene 3

SO. When we last left Sebastian, he had just been assaulted FOR NO DISCERNIBLE REASON by Sir Andrew and Sir Toby, and had just been whisked away to a loving tryst FOR NO DISCERNIBLE REASON by Olivia.

He's having a surreal day.

What do you do when you find yourself swept up in a loving embrace by a wealth, landed noblewoman who calls you by the wrong name and wants to marry you? Obviously, you marry her. That's not dodgy at all. 

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 | 3.4, part 4 | 3.4, part 5 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3

Twelfth Night: Act 4, Scene 2

THE STORY SO FAR: Sir Toby and his crew have contrived to get Malvolio locked up for acting strangely due to the forged letter Maria wrote to him. Everyone acts like a jerk.

This is one of the least funny "funny" scenes ever and generally succeeds in making everyone feel sorry for Malvolio.

Did I mention that I think Sir Toby is a jerk?

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Twelfth Night: Act 4, Scene 1

OK. Back to Twelfth Night. Are you ready for this?

THE STORY SO FAR: ...oh gosh, do I really have to do this? OK, fine... Viola, disguised as Cesario, with whom the lady Olivia is infatuated, is challenged to a duel by Sir Andrew, who has been egged on to do so by Sir Toby, who is a jerk. However, the duel is never fought because Antonio, the rugged seaman who is besotted with Viola's missing twin brother, Sebastian, mistakes Cesario for Sebastian and intervenes. He's then arrested and Viola goes back to Orsino's court. Unbeknownst to anyone, Sebastian is happily wandering around Elyria, totally ignorant of all these goings-on.

GOT IT? I hope so, because I'm not repeating it. 

"Are all the people mad here?" is probably one of my favorite underrated comedic lines from this play. It pretty much sums up what a lot of the audience is thinking at this point as well.

I'm not sure how I feel about Sebastian. Surely a true gentleman would have said something like "I'll go with you, but you may or may not be mistaking me for somebody else and I've never seen you before" before accepting a strange woman's clearly romantic invitation. 

But then, all the people are mad here. 

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Twelfth Night: Act 3, Scene 4 (part 5)

We've finally made it to the last part of this gargantuan, never-ending scene! Phew!

Having received a hint that her brother Sebastian is alive, Viola now instantly runs after Antonio to get the full story from him!

Ha ha ha, no, I'm just kidding. She goes back to Orsino and everything remains hopelessly confused for the time being, ha ha ha.

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

OK, so just to sum up... in this mega-scene from Twelfth Night the following things have happened so far:

1. Malvolio turned up dressed in yellow stockings and made kissy faces at Olivia, who assumed he had gone mad.

2. Olivia placed Malvolio in the care of Sir Toby and his cronies, who arranged for him to be locked in a dark room.

3. Sir Andrew wrote a letter challenging Viola/Cesario to a duel, egged on by Sir Toby and Fabian.

4. Viola/Cesario repelled another onslaught of affection from Olivia and attempted to leave the premises, but was stopped by Sir Toby.

Got all that? OK, let's continue...

The sword fight between Viola and Sir Andrew is often made into an extended comedic set-piece, as neither of them (a) wants to fight, nor (b) are very good at fighting. 

Tune in again on Thursday, when we finally wrap this behemoth of a scene up!

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 | 3.4, part 4