Twelfth Night - Teaching materials - Shakespeare - Literature  Investigating Scenes From Twelfth Night
VIOLA AND THE CAPTAINYour task is to work out a presentation of this scene to an audience. You will have to decide what kind of stage you are going to prepare your performance for (thrust, arena, avenue, proscenium) - and why. You are allowed to use: one prop; one piece of furniture or scenery (that can be carried); one item of costume. These are some of the questions that you will have to ask yourselves. Try out different answers and see which work best. - How do the characters enter?
- Where are the characters on the stage? Are they standing or sitting?
- Who is s/he speaking to?
- Who is listening? How do the listeners respond to what is being said?
- If any characters aren't listening, what are they doing instead?
- Where are the characters looking at any given moment?
- When should anyone move, and how, and why?
- What difference would it make if s/he spoke the lines from somewhere else on stage?
- Is this better close to or far away from the audience?
- Should the audience be able to see his/her face at this point?
- In the longer speeches, where should there be pauses or changes of tone or emphasis?
You will also need to consider: 1.How are you going to show the audience that Viola and the others have just been shipwrecked? 2.Is Viola standing, sitting, lying down, walking around? Try it in different ways and choose the one that you think will work best. 3.Is she supported by the Captain and the Sailors or independent of them? 4,What response do you want the audience to have to Viola? Enter VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and SAILORS. VIOLA | What country, friends, is this? | CAPTAIN | This is Illyria Lady. | VIOLA | And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium,
Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you sailors? | CAPTAIN | It is perchance that you yourself were sav'd | VIOLA | O my poor brother, and so perchance may he be | CAPTAIN | True Madam, and to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
When you and those poor number sav'd with you
Hung on our driving boat: I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself
(Courage and hope both teaching him the practice)
To a strong mast, that liv'd upon the sea:
Where, like Orion on the dolphin's back,
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves,
So long as I could see. | VIOLA | For saying so, there's gold:
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority
The like of him. Know'st thou this country? | CAPTAIN | Ay Madam well, for I was bred and born
Not three hours' travel from this very place. | VIOLA | Who governs here? |
CAPTAIN | A noble Duke in nature, as in name. | | | | VIOLA | What is his name? | | | | CAPTAIN | Orsino. | | | | VIOLA | Orsino: I have heard my father name him.
He was a bachelor then. | CAPTAIN | And so is now, or was so very late:
For but a month ago I went from hence,
And then 'twas fresh in murmur (as you know
What great ones do, the less will prattle of)
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia. | VIOLA | What's she? | CAPTAIN | A virtuous maid, the daughter of a Count
That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
(They say) she hath abjur'd the sight
And company of men. | VIOLA | that I serv'd that Lady,
And might not be delivered to the world
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow
What my estate is. | CAPTAIN | That were hard to compass,
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
No, not the Duke's. | VIOLA | There is a fair behaviour in thee Captain,
And, though that nature, with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution: yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee (and I'll pay thee bounteously)
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid,
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this Duke,
Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him,
It may be worth thy pains: for I can sing,
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap, to time I will commit,
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit. | CAPTAIN | Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be,
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see. | VIOLA | I thank thee: lead me on | Exeunt | |
VIOLA AND THE CAPTAIN: Homework Questions Write detailed answers to these questions: 1.What sort of personality do you think Viola has, and why? 2.Some impulsive choices are made in this scene. Find two, and see if you can explain why they are made. 3.Pick one part of the scene - no more than two or three lines - that you find hard to understand. Write it out neatly, and write under it your guess as to what it means.
Group Investigation of a Scene from 'Twelfth Night' VIOLA AND THE CAPTAIN ROLES WITHIN THE GROUP Listed and described below are the various roles that are needed if your presentation is to be a success. They should be shared out among the group by general agreement. THE ACTORS VIOLA - the main speaking part THE CAPTAIN Other non-speaking parts (the Sailors) are to be played by other members of the group. The actors are responsible for getting to know their parts well (you might even learn your lines) and working with the others on the best possible presentation. Other non-speaking parts (you must have some) are to be played by other members of the group. THE DIRECTOR The director has the main responsibility for choices about how the scene will be acted - the positions, moves of the actors and how they will speak their speeches and relate to each other and the audience. In cases of disagreement in the group that cannot be resolved by discussion, the director has the casting vote. THE BOOK The Book assists the director by making a note of all the decisions taken so that no-one will forget. This person also keep an eye on your task instructions to make sure that you have not missed out any of the things that you were asked to consider. The Book also has the task of watching the rehearsals from all angles from the audience's point of view and making any comments that are relevant. THE PROPS PERSON Is responsible for finding appropriate props according to the decisions taken by the group and making sure that they are available for rehearsals and performance. The responsibility for the quality of your preparation and presentation belongs equally with the whole group. Everyone is to contribute ideas and to be involved in discussion. English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online English Online
Any comments? Please email englishonline@actis.co.uk
| | |
