Due to its jumbled fusing of plot lines, time wasting fight scenes, and bizarre characterization, trevor nunns twelfth night fails utterly as an adaptation of the source material. These themes are still so much a part of modern contemporary culture that there are still new works being created based on shakespeares. Streaming films of twelfth night available to the university of puget sound campus. Overall i think i prefer the interpretation that kenneth branaghs renaissance theatre company gave twelfth night in the 1988 tv play, though i had some problems with that which thankfully, nunns adaptation corrects. Tim blake nelson, othello, and get over it 2001, dir. The 1993 film adaptation of the romantic comedy much ado about nothing was a riveting and well done performance. What did critics think of the shakespeare in the park twelfth. Or what you will is a 1996 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play, directed by trevor nunn and featuring an allstar cast. With tamara lawrance, daniel ezra, oliver chris, brad morrison. The making of twelfth night series when the decision was made by britains channel 4 to film a tv adaptation of shakespeares twelfth night, the result was a gloriously irreverent, deliciously colorful production in which the twins viola and sebastianparminder nagra and ronny jhutti. Twelfth night shakespeares seasonal comedy about a shipwreck that separates identical twins sebastian and viola. Getting started twelfth night production guide libguides. The frivolous tone of this adaptation fails to epitomize the historical setting, depth of characters, and poetic magnificence of this comedic play. The play centres on the twins viola and sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck.
One might think that being so far removed from the era would make this less of a straight adaptation, but for the most part the plot remains intact. London college of fashion, university of arts london directorconceptcostume. Twelfth night is a fastpaced and accessible musical comedy adaptation in which illyria becomes. Shes the man is a modern adaptation and interpretation of the twelfth night but the movie varies greatly from the original play. Twelfth night or what you will 1996 video detective. Set in the late 19th century, it was filmed on location in cornwall, including scenes shot at padstow and at lanhydrock house near bodmin, with. Its 100% acceptable for the ending to be plausible, because of the way the scenes were done and the extra physical elements that were added. Rather the problem is that the parts are not played with much harmony.
With sheila atim, antony bunsee, shalini peiris, simon nagra. With gillian jones, ivar kants, jacquy phillips, peter cummins. Review of john gorries twelfth night film adaptation. Twelfth night was first adapted into a film in 1910, as a silent production. Generationtheatres twelfth night adaptation falls short. So yes, obviously, shes the man is much more modern than twelfth night, and keeps almost none of the same script, except the basic plot, the. The modernity of the film makes the context of the play.
Twelfth night, or what you will is a romantic comedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written around 16011602 as a twelfth night s entertainment for the close of the christmas season. Viola, olivia, and sebastian all have identical names and plots, but tatums character duke orsino has a twist. Shes the man essay new time period, new medium, new. Paulies attempts to become more masculine to impress and attract her roommate echo the complexity of violas relationship with olivia. Twins are separated in a shipwreck, and forced to fend for themselves in a strange land. Once you do learn a thing or two about shakespeare and twelfth night, the moviewatching experience is only enhanced the clever ways in which names and locations are repurposed is one big part of the shes the man magic. Sure names are changed due to the country but the basic plots follow what the original text intended without deviating from what shakespeare intended. Originally broadcast on britains itv, this classic performance captures all the slapstick, puns and double entendres that have amazed and amused audiences for over four hundred years. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Unfortunately, like much in the film, this development goes untouched after this scene.
Shakespeares comedy about twins, viola and sebastian, shipwrecked on the island of illyria. Viola who is disguised as cesario falls in love with duke orsino, who in turn is in love with countess olivia. Fearing for her safety, viola disguises herself as her brother. In the kingdom of illyria, a nobleman named orsino lies around listening to music, pining away for the love of lady olivia. A 2001 adaptation of susan swans novel the wives of bath. Changing adaptations through time twelfth night flashcards. The themes of gender roles and relations between the genders have been popular topics throughout history. Viola goes into service with count orsino of illyria, disguised as a. Tamsin greig is malvolia in a new twist on shakespeares classic comedy of mistaken identity. Modern adaptation and interpretation of the twelfth night. Amanda bynes is hilarious as the soccerplaying, feminist viola i like cheese, and i like this movie. Viola who is disguised as a boy falls in love with duke orsino, who in turn is in love with the countess olivia.
The first twin, viola, falls in love with orsino, who dotes on oiivia, who falls for viola but is idolised by malvolio. Being an adaptation, if the movie resembles the play, at the same time it also presents instances of being a piece of visual art, specifically meant for the modern audience. While some of the performances are a bit silly, nothing about the film is terrible. After the twins sebastian and viola survive a shipwreck, neither knows that the other is alive. Or what you will is a 1996 britishamericanirish film adaptation of william shakespeares play, directed by trevor nunn and featuring an allstar cast. Twelfth night, or what you will introduction shmoop. Charming full text, modern, location based screen adaptation of. Shakespeares twelfth night bears something of the same relationship to his serious romances like romeo and juliet that, if you will forgive the comparison, airplane. Shakespeares play twelfth night epitomizes the patriarchal society of the 17th century, rooted within the comedic elements customary to plays during the era. Made for a school drama exam and because this is what we enjoy doing. Apr 26, 2012 one might think that being so far removed from the era would make this less of a straight adaptation, but for the most part the plot remains intact. The 6th january 1980 was the day that john gorries film adaptation of william shakespeares twelfth night was broadcasted. This occurred on 28 may 1923, with nesbitt as both viola and sebastian, and gerald lawrence as orsino.
I have one quibble, however, and it is considerable. Twelfth night isnt as popular as romeo and juliet, as shakespeare plays go, but somehow its inspired just as many teengeared adaptations. Set in the late 19th century, it was filmed on location in cornwall, including scenes shot at padstow and at lanhydrock house near bodmin, with orsino and his. Meanwhile, off the coast, a storm has caused a terrible shipwreck. Twelfth night has been described as like hamlet in a comic vein. Violas shipwreck took the form of a painfully lengthy projected blackandwhite film, and poor. Adjust for period, genre and style, and acknowledge the fact that shakespeare occupies a different creative universe than, say, david zucker, and the intention is the same. Here are 15 movies inspired by some of the bards greatest works. Shes the man is not only an underrated teen comedy, but stands as the greatest shakespeare adaptation since 10 things i hate about you. Twelfth night is an ok shakespeare adaptation, a handsome, agreeably performed rendition that fails to ignite much laughter or any real emotion. Determined to survive on her own, she steps out to explore a new land. An allstar cast presents superb performances, but what really stands out is that the actors playing the twin brother and sister actually closely resemble each other, thus making the farce almost believable. In trevor nunns film adaptation titled twelfth night.
What did critics think of the shakespeare in the park. The producer kenneth branaugh captures the essence of the play, whilst adding his own twist and flair to it without interfering with the plot. The 2006 movie stars amanda bynes as viola hastings a high school soccer player with a twin named sebastian. Public theater triumphs with musical adaptation of a classic. Twelfth night, or what you will is a comedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written around 160102 as a twelfth nights entertainment for the close of the christmas season. Shakespeares comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves. Charming full text, modern, location based screen adaptation of william shakespeares play twelfth night. Tobys for maria is a matter of casual, drunk conveniency. William shakespeare explored these themes in many of his plays, including twelfth night, and these themes are still very much part of todays culture. In the film, paulies character borrows much from twelfth night s viola as the film explores the relationship between two canadian boarding school roommates struggling with issues of gender and sexual identity. Twelfth night becomes shes the man in this modern adaptation.
Ive seen twelfth night in several stage versions as well as on film. Enter sebastian, who is the spitting image of his twin sister. In the film, paulies character borrows much from twelfth nights viola as the film explores the relationship between two canadian boarding school roommates struggling with issues of gender and sexual identity. He cannot have her because she is in mourning for her dead brother and refuses to entertain any proposals of marriage. I am fully aware of how unbelievable the ending can be most of the time its done. Apparently movie execs love putting girls in drag and making homoerotic jokes until shes revealed to be, thankfully for heteronormativity, a girl. Although the marriage of teen film and shakespeares plays might seem. Trevor nunns adaptation takes full advantage of these cinemamatic advantages. Start studying changing adaptations through time twelfth night. Viola is washed ashore but her twin brother sebastian is lost. We did all the filming, editing, and organised everything. Or what you will shakespeares twelfth night was brought back into cinematic form again.
Two modern films based on shakespeares twelfth night, and. Directed by gorrie it stared alec mccowen malvolio, felicity kendal viola, sinead cusack olivia, annette crosbie maria and robert hardy sir toby belch, in an absolutely delightful. Kwame kweiarmah and shaina taubs newly conceived adaptation of shakespeares twelfth night began performances at the delacorte theater in central park on july 17. Paulies attempts to become more masculine to impress and attract her. In terms of shakespearean chronology, the bittersweet edge to the play and the fact that it is essentially a comedy with the dark. Nunns vision of twelfth night, however, is comparable to a jane austen romance as what his characters experience is real love, whereas in branaghs version like others show orsinos love for olivia is possessiveand selfindulgent. Shakespeare has been adapted in countless ways over the years, sometimes as in the case of these films rather subtly. Nov 19, 2019 in trevor nunns film adaptation titled twelfth night. Jul 26, 20 this is our own interpretation of the ending of twelfth night. Twelfth night an allusion to the night of festivity preceding the christian celebration of the epiphanycombines love, confusion, mistaken identities, and joyful discovery. Twelfth night is a tale of unrequited love hilarious and heartbreaking. So yes, obviously, shes the man is much more modern than twelfth night, and keeps almost none of the same script, except the basic plot, the main characters names, and a few quotes here and there. Its modern film adaptation, andy fickmans shes the man, encapsulates the essence of the original text and is.
The same may be said of twelfth night, which cuts from various outdoor settings in illyria to orsinos dwelling to olivias house to olivias grounds. Rebecca twitchell remarks in her blog, shes the man is a smart and modern twist on shakespeares twelfth night. An adaptation of twelfth night by cathleen nesbitt for the bbc was the first complete shakespeare play ever broadcast on british radio. This is our own interpretation of the ending of twelfth night. Sir alec guinness, sir ralph richardson and joan plowright star in this merry onstage mixup of identity, gender and love in tony awardwinner john dexters production of william shakespeares twelfth night. The king of staten island trailer is here, film hits vod june 12th spike lees new film da 5 bloods debuts on netflix june 12th m. Night shyamalan casts five in new secret film for universal. Raja gosnell, an adaptation of as you like it, 10 things i hate about you 1999, dir.