Theatre: Twelfth Night at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (June 2018)

Twelfth Night, or What You Will, is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. (Subtitles for plays were fashionable in the Elizabethan era, and though some editors place The Merchant of Venice's alternative title, The Jew of Venice, as a subtitle, this is the only Shakespearean play to bear one when first published.) "Twelfth Night" is a reference to the twelfth night after Christmas Day, called the Eve of the Feast of Epiphany. It was originally a Catholic holiday, and therefore, like other Christian feast days, an occasion for revelry. Servants often dressed up as their masters, men as women, and so forth. This history of festive ritual and Carnivalesque reversal, based on the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia at the same time of year (characterized by drunken revelry and inversion of the social order), is the cultural origin of the play's gender confusion-driven plot. The play expanded on the musical interludes and riotous disorder expected of the occasion. Although the play was first performed in 1602, was not published until its inclusion in the 1623 First Folio.

The play centers on twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola (who is disguised as Cesario) falls in love with Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with the Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her, thinking she is a man.

Viola is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, and she comes ashore with the help of a captain. She has lost contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, who she believes to have drowned. With the aid of the captain, she disguises herself as a young man named Cesario, and enters the service of Duke Orsino. Duke Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia, who is mourning the recent deaths of her father and brother. She refuses to see entertainment, be in the company of men, or accept love or marriage proposals from anyone (the Duke included) until seven years have passed. Duke Orsino uses Cesario as an intermediary to profess his passionate love for Olivia. Olivia, however, falls in love with Cesario. In the meantime, Viola has fallen in love with the Duke Orsino, creating a love triangle among Duke Orsino, Olivia, and Viola: Viola loves Duke Orsino, Duke Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Viola disguised as Cesario.

In the comic subplot, several characters conspire to make Olivia's pompous steward, Malvolio, believe that Olivia has fallen for him. This involves Olivia's riotous uncle (Sir Toby Belch), another would-be suitor (a silly squire named Sir Andrew Aguecheek), her servants (Maria and Fabian); and her melancholy fool (Feste). Sir Toby and Sir Andrew engage themselves in drinking and revelry, thus disturbing the peace of Olivia's household until late into the night, prompting Malvolio to chastise them.

Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria plan revenge on Malvolio. They convince Malvolio that Olivia is secretly in love with him by planting a love letter, written by Maria in Olivia's handwriting. It asks Malvolio to wear yellow stockings cross-gartered 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 is shocked by the changes in Malvolio, and agreeing that he seems mad, leaves him to be cared for by his tormentors. Pretending that Malvolio is insane, they lock him up in a dark chamber. Feste visits him to mock his insanity, both disguised as a priest and as himself.

Meanwhile, Viola's twin Sebastian has been rescued by Antonio, a sea captain who previously fought against Duke Orsino, yet who accompanies Sebastian to Illyria, despite the danger, because of his affection for Sebastian. Sebastian's appearance adds the confusion of mistaken identities to the comedy. Taking Sebastian for Cesario, Olivia asks him to marry her, and they are secretly wed in a church. Finally, when Cesario and Sebastian appear in the presence of both Olivia and Orsino, there is more wonder and confusion at their physical similarity. At this point, Viola reveals her identity and is reunited with her twin brother.

The play ends in a declaration of marriage between Duke Orsino and Viola, and it is learned that Sir Toby has married Maria. Malvolio swears revenge on his tormentors and stalks off, but Orsino sends Fabian to placate him.