Synopsis: After surviving a mighty shipwreck, a pair of twins Viola and Sebastian are separated at sea thinking the other to have drowned. To survive alone on this mysterious island, Viola dresses as a boy named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino with whom she has begun to fall in love. However, Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia, and sends Cesario to court her with love letters to woo Olivia. The lovely Olivia falls for Cesario, who is secretly Viola dressed as a man, instead. But Viola has secretly fallen in love with her new boss Orsino, and Orsino is confused by his strange new feelings for his new ‘male’ servant. Twelfth Night abounds with comic elements: mistaken identity, duels, a pompous steward, a silly squire, yellow stockings & crossed garters, and a cross-dressing heroine, Viola, known for her resourcefulness and wit. Sebastian arrives, causing the reveals of mistaken identity and happily-ever-afters for all. He marries Olivia. Viola then reveals she is NOT Cesario but rather a girl. She marries Orsino and the twins are joyfully reunited.

The Argument: This comedy is a revelatory play that begins with destruction and tragedy, journeys through grief, woe and confusion, but still in true Shakespearean comedic fashion ends with unexpected, joyous and hilarious consequences. The ups and downs of life in Twelfth Night follows this play throughout. At the beginning, Olivia is mourning a dead brother. Sebastian and Viola have just survived a shipwreck, and each spends the majority of the play separated thinking the other is dead. But tragedy is soon pushed aside by love, marriage, and reunions. At the end of the play the truth comes out, all families are reunited and joy and love reigns.