Publisher Description
As the generating force of its plot, Twelfth Night uses a device which has since become a staple in comedy: gender confusion. Viola and her twin brother Sebastian, are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, a country ruled by the melancholy Duke Orsino. The twins are separated and Viola is led to believe that her brother has perished. She disguises herself as a male under the name of Cesario and makes her way to the ducal court, where Orsino employs her as a messenger, to communicate his love to the reclusive lady, Olivia—who is not willing to return his affection. Olivia is also the target of two other romantic schemes. Her pompous steward, Malvolio, has persuaded himself that Olivia has fallen for him but is too diffident to reveal her passion. Her dissipated uncle, Sir Toby Belch, has plans to set up a match for her with Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a feeble-minded squire. Viola/Cesario falls in love with Orsino and Olivia with Cesario, but all of the parties are obliged to hide their feelings. Having survived the shipwreck, Sebastian now appears on the scene and contracts a secret marriage with Olivia, who believes him to be Cesario. In the final act, Viola reveals her true identity …
Featuring Emma Faye as Viola, Kendra Murray as Olivia, Cate Barratt as Sir Toby Belch, Alan Weyman as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Lillian Rachel as Malvolio, Marty Krz as Feste and Laura Richcreek as Orsino. Also featuring the voices of Claudia Anglade, Linda Barrans, PJ Morgan, Denis Daly and John Burlinson.
Songs arranged by Alan Weyman and Marty Krz
Audio edited by Denis Daly
Text kindly provided by playshakespeare.com
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“Twelfth Night is perhaps the most graceful and harmonious comedy Shakespeare ever wrote. It is certainly that in which all the notes the poet strikes, the note of seriousness and of raillery, of passion, of tenderness, and of laughter, blend in the richest and fullest concord. It is like a symphony in which no strain can be dispensed with, or like a picture veiled in a golden haze, into which all the colours resolve themselves.”
—
George Brandes, author of William Shakespeare: A Critical Study
About the Narrators
John Burlinson is an American audiobook narrator.
After a career in communications and a life dabbling in theatre, Cate Barratt now spends her time narrating audiobooks—from mysteries to dramatic readings, from comedies to history books. These can be found on Audible, iTunes, Amazon, and more.
Melissa Green is an audiobook narrator, currently residing on the northwest coast of Washington. She is a passionate reader and has pursued many areas of study including biology, premed, massage therapy, European history, vocal performance, opera, street theatre, and dance.
Born in the UK, Lillian Rachel grew up in East Anglia and later moved north to Durham. She then married a US military man and spent time hopping across the pond to North America and back to Europe. Lillian works from her professional-grade home studio equipped with industry-best technology in sunny California. Outside the booth, she’s a wife, mum, dog rescuer, and lover of perfect pastries.
Graham Scott is a narrator and voice actor based in the UK. As well as solo performances of works by authors including PG Wodehouse, Charles Dickens, R Austin Freeman, Dorothy L. Sayers, Jules Verne, Anna Katherine Green, Joseph Conrad, GK Chesterton, and John Buchan, Graham is also a regular performer in group productions with both Voices of Today and the Online Stage. Website: www.GrahamScottAudio.com
Denis Daly is an audiobook narrator and codirector of Voices of Today, an Australian spoken word production house.
Denis Daly is an audiobook narrator and codirector of Voices of Today, an Australian spoken word production house.
John Burlinson is an American audiobook narrator.
R. F. Daley is an actor, voice-over artist, and audiobook narrator. His television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bones, Dexter, The Office, Arrested Development, Boston Public, and Spin City, among many others. He has narrated numerous audiobooks by L. Ron Hubbard and was the voice of the military adviser in the video game Civilization V.
Denis Daly is an audiobook narrator and codirector of Voices of Today, an Australian spoken word production house.