| Olivia | |
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| Twelfth Night character | |
 Olivia in mourning | |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
Olivia is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night , believed to have been written around 1600 or 1601. She is at the centre of the various plots, both the comedic and the romantic. She has various suitors.
Olivia is a beautiful lady of noble birth who lives in Illyria. Before the play begins, she lost her brother, her guardian, after her father died. This loss has made her grief-stricken and she has refused to see anyone who does not reside in her household and declared that she will be in mourning for seven years (The element itself, till seven years' heat, Shall not behold her face at ample view).
Because of her wealth and beauty, Olivia attracts various men (Malvolio, Sir Andrew Aguecheek) who wish to marry her. The play begins with the Duke of Illyria, Orsino, pining away over his love for Olivia while she refuses to accept him as a suitor. Sir Andrew has been invited to her household by Sir Toby, and Andrew hopes to use his stay to make Olivia his bride. Malvolio uses his position as a steward to gain her affections.
Despite all of the rumpus going on at her home, Olivia refuses all visitors until Orsino sends his new page, the protagonist of the play, Viola, to call on her.
Viola has been recently shipwrecked and she has taken on the disguise of a boy so that she may work for Orsino with no one knowing her true identity. During the shipwreck, Viola was separated from her brother, Sebastian, and she believes that he has died.
Olivia quickly falls in love with the witty Cesario (Viola's name when she is in disguise) because Cesario is unafraid of saying what they are thinking, even though Cesario never says anything nice to Olivia (except, of course, when speaking Orsino's messages). Cesario also compliments Olivia on her beauty, something that helps heal Olivia's heart from the losses she has recently incurred.
Olivia attempts to woo the young Cesario/Viola and repeatedly lures them to come back to her estate by using various tricks and problems. Olivia eventually concludes that she must marry him. However, in a case of mistaken identity, she marries Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, after a chance encounter with him. However, all ends well because Sebastian and his sister are extremely similar.
The climax of the play takes place at Olivia's estate. Here, Olivia and Sebastian are hastily married, Viola and Sebastian rediscover each other, Malvolio is rescued, and Orsino proposes to Viola. [1]
One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, Twelfth Night has been produced for both the stage and film multiple times.
In 2009, Shakespeare in the Park put on a production starring Anne Hathaway as Viola and Audra McDonald as Olivia.
In 2014, Mark Rylance played the role in an all-male production in New York that ran in repertory with Richard III (in which Rylance played the title role). He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Olivia. He had previously played the role in 2002 and 2012 at Shakespeare's Globe in London.
In 2017/18, Kara Tointon played the role at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
In the first film version of the play, made in 1910, Julia Swayne Gordon depicted Lady Olivia.
Helena Bonham Carter played Olivia in Trevor Nunn's film, Twelfth Night .
In 2006 the play was adapted into a modern retelling titled She's the Man , starring Amanda Bynes as Viola and Laura Ramsey as Olivia. [2]
Helen Menken played the role of Olivia in a 1937 radio adaptation. [3]
Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare that is believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, or What You Will. One of the supporting characters, Sir Andrew is a stereotypical fool, who is goaded into unwisely duelling with Cesario and who is slowly having his money pilfered by Sir Toby Belch. He is dim-witted, vain and clownish. His role in the play not only provides comedy through his pathetic situation and his long speech, but also by his distinct, long-faced appearance and garish dress sense. The role has been a favourite for actors and has been performed by Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer, Paul Scofield and Roger Rees.
Sir Toby Belch is a character in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. He is Olivia's uncle.
Malvolio is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, or What You Will. His name means "ill will" in Italian, referencing his disagreeable nature. He is the vain, pompous, authoritarian steward of Olivia's household.
She's the Man is a 2006 American romantic comedy teen sports film directed by Andy Fickman and starring Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, and David Cross. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, the film centers on teenager Viola Hastings, who enters her brother's new boarding school, Illyria Prep, in his place and pretends to be a boy in order to play on the boys' soccer team.
Feste is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. He is a fool attached to the household of the Countess Olivia. He has apparently been there for some time, as he was a "fool that the Lady Olivia's father took much delight in" (2.4). Although Olivia's father has died within the last year, it is possible that Feste approaches or has reached middle age, though he still has the wit to carry off good 'fooling' when he needs to, and the voice to sing lustily or mournfully as the occasion demands. He is referred to by name only once during the play, in answer to an inquiry by Orsino of who sang a song that he heard the previous evening. Curio responds "Feste, the jester, my lord; a fool that the lady Olivia's father took much delight in. He is about the house" (2.4). Throughout the rest of the play, he is addressed only as "Fool," while in the stage directions he is mentioned as "Clown."
Your Own Thing is a rock-styled musical comedy loosely based on Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. It premiered off-Broadway in early 1968. The music and lyrics are by Hal Hester and Danny Apolinar with the book adaptation by Donald Driver, who also directed the original production. Dorothy Love was the show's producer. The show was a success, running for 937 performances Off-Broadway and then touring and playing in London and Australia.
Twelfth Night is a 1996 romantic comedy film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, directed by Trevor Nunn and featuring an all-star cast. 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 followers wearing uniforms that evoke the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Twelfth Night is a 1955 Soviet romantic comedy-drama film by Lenfilm based on Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, or What You Will. The script was written by Yan Frid. The film was released in the Soviet Union on 21 November 1955, and in the United States on 3 March 1956.
Duke Orsino is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600-1602.
Viola is the protagonist of the play Twelfth Night, written by William Shakespeare.
Music Is is a musical with a book by George Abbott, music by Richard Adler, and lyrics by Will Holt. It is the second musical adaptation of the William Shakespeare play Twelfth Night, following Your Own Thing in 1968.
Illyria is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Peter Mills, based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written in 2002. Illyria is a traditional adaptation of Twelfth Night, but features a more contemporary score.
Propeller is a theatre company which presents the plays of William Shakespeare in the UK and around the world. The director is Edward Hall.
Twelfth Night, or, What You Will is a videotaped 1988 television adaptation of Kenneth Branagh's stage production for the Renaissance Theatre Company of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night first broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 on 30 December 1988. Made by Thames Television, in collaboration with Renaissance, it stars Frances Barber as Viola and Richard Briers as Malvolio. The recording was shot on a single set with the appearance of a wintry garden. The costumes are Victorian, and the time of year is Christmas.
Sebastian is one of the main characters from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600 or 1601.
Twelfth Night is a 1986 Australian film based on the play directed by Neil Armfield and starring Gillian Jones, Ivar Kants, and Peter Cummins.
"Twelfth Night" is a 1970 British TV adaptation of the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. It was directed by John Sichel and broadcast as the 44th episode of second season of ITV Sunday Night Theatre. The score was composed by Marc Wilkinson.
Twelfth Night is a 1910 silent short film directed by Eugene Mullin and Charles Kent. It is based on William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America.
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