WHOViola and Sebastian are twins.
Orsino is the Duke of Illyria. Cesario is one of Orsino's men. Olivia is a countess in Illyria. Maria is Olivia's Gentlewoman. Sir Toby is Olivia's uncle. Malvolio is Olivia's steward. Feste is Olivia's clown. Sir Andrew is visiting. Antonio is wanted by Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Olivia. Sir Andrew is in love with Olivia. Malvolio is also in love with himself... but also Olivia. Cesario is in love with Orsino. Olivia is in love with Cesario. Antonio is in love with Sebastian. Cesario is actually Viola. Sir Toby is fooling Sir Andrew. Maria is fooling Malvolio. Antonio is also helping Sebastian-both very much unaware that all this is happening in Illyria. |
WHERETwelfth Night, or What You Will takes place in Illyria, which was literally in the Balkan peninsula. This peninsula is located in southeastern Europe, across the sea from Italy's famous "boot." However, Shakespeare fictionalized his Illyria to be somewhat placeless. We know that Shakespeare's Illyria is on the shore, as Viola and Sebastian end up there after a shipwreck. Other than that, Shakespeare used his imagination to fill in the details.
Our production takes place in an Illyria much like Shakespeare's: placeless. Our scenic designer, Andie Pratt knows about our Illyria unlike anyone else. In designing our Illyria, Andie looked to several different eras of architecture for inspiration. The blank walls you will see fit contemporary looks, while the moulding, the chandeliers, and other small but ornate details draw upon the Victorian era. She's designed secret doors that would often be seen in castles. There is even a "magic box" as she's coined it, that can be morphed into anything--a sewer, a garden, a plaza... you name it! In a way, Andie acted much like Shakespeare, but rather than words she used images. In designing the set for Twelfth Night, she got to use her imagination to fill in the details that cannot be taken from images of a particular place, because no such place exists. By including architecture styles and details from many different eras, it becomes almost impossible to recognize exactly where Illyria is and when it is happening. |
WHEN
Shakespeare himself is pretty loose about what time frame Twelfth Night exists in. We know that from beginning to end three months have passed, but other than that he does not make any direct allusion to any particular dates, outside of, of course, the title, referring to the twelfth day after Christmas. However, there is no real signification in the play that the characters are in the middle of celebrating this twelve day festival (check out the "context" page for more info). With that, we see that perhaps Shakespeare wasn't too concerned with when this play takes place in the least!
For our production, we are looking at an indeterminate future or past. Much like our "where," our "when" is timeless. Through Patrick Holt's costume design, we can feel this timelessness. He has incorporated looks inspired by several different eras, making it again impossible to place exactly what era these characters live in. Similarly, Domino Manheim takes it one step further and has designed the lighting to avoid dictating any particular time of day. Instead, she wanted to draw upon a feeling and a tone. So not only are our characters existing in a timeless era, they are living in a minute-less day.
For our production, we are looking at an indeterminate future or past. Much like our "where," our "when" is timeless. Through Patrick Holt's costume design, we can feel this timelessness. He has incorporated looks inspired by several different eras, making it again impossible to place exactly what era these characters live in. Similarly, Domino Manheim takes it one step further and has designed the lighting to avoid dictating any particular time of day. Instead, she wanted to draw upon a feeling and a tone. So not only are our characters existing in a timeless era, they are living in a minute-less day.