Twelfth Night Essay Example

inadvertently blocked the other actors due to the insufficient movement of the actor whose spot I took.

The scene in which Feste enters and converses with another character was not edited and was performed without costumes. The decision to forgo costumes was made collectively, as the group felt that it would not add to the performance. Initially, the idea of having the fool wear a hat or scarf was discussed, but ultimately deemed unnecessary. To enhance the melodic nature of the scene, the actor playing Andrew accompanied Feste's singing with a guitar while the song lyrics were recited as poetry instead of being sung. This solution proved effective and easier for the actor reciting the lyrics. The scene ended with the entrance of another character.

The guitar music added greatly to the mood and atmosphere, making it more realistic. However, there were two challenges we faced. Firstly, as the actor playing the fool, I had to sing which was difficult because I have no musical experience. Secondly, choosing the appropriate pace and rhythm for the song was challenging as it wasn't specified in the script.

We addressed the issue by incorporating a guitar into the performance. While I sang, another character played the instrument, creating a suitable atmosphere. This allowed me to interpret the lyrics more freely and recite them like poetry. The lyrics followed an AABCCB rhyme scheme, and the guitar offered guidance and prevented monotony. The challenge with the other two characters was their drunken dialogue, which needed to be both believable and intelligible. Ultimately, I believe we achieved a balanced performance that was easy for the audience to comprehend.

Understanding and delivering the puns

and word play of the fool was a crucial aspect of this scene. To sound realistic and natural, every joke had to be comprehended and naturally laughed at in the appropriate moments. However, as the scene was repeatedly memorized and practiced, the jokes became more coherent, and the intonations flowed naturally. These clever puns were not only intellectually stimulating, but also informed by their context in time. Reflecting on previous performances, it became clear that deconstructing a scene to identify good visual composition was beneficial. One way to achieve this is through taking pictures or pausing the actors and observing from the audience's perspective. This technique can reveal which movements, staging decisions, and blocking work effectively.

During the performance on tape, I observed impressive stage pictures, particularly during the opening scene where the Fool converses with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. In spite of their prose dialogue, the rhythm, and especially the Fool's line "I did impeticos thy gratillity, for Malvolio's nose is no whipstock" (II, iii, 27-28), added musicality and variety to the performance. We closely examined the sounds of the words in order to prevent monotony and make it more enjoyable to listen to. Personally, I had significant growth and gained experience from this performance. Focusing on a specific part of the play allowed us to understand the characters and ultimately comprehend the entire plot. As an actor, I challenged myself by practicing various behaviors such as delivering inebriated speeches and songs accompanied by a guitar.

During my performance, I engaged with the audience directly and found it to be highly effective. Portraying a complicated character also required me to consider their

movements and motivations. However, I struggled with performing natural gestures. Remaining upright for most of the play was difficult, especially when I had to walk towards the audience at the back. In retrospect, I realized that some of my fidgeting was distracting for the audience. It became evident that any movement, no matter how small, must have a purpose or it can easily divert attention away from the main focus.