Twelfth Night

The straightforward paths of tradition and attention to textual detail may not always lead to striking originality, but they can, as in this case, beget an appropriately humorous and a nearly definitive version.

Filmed in and around an Elizabethan manor house, this production has the grace and authenticity of its setting.

Feste is so believable that he seems to have come with the house, not the acting company.

Felicity Kendall is reasonably boyish as Cesario, but attractive enough that we never lose sight of Viola.

Toby has enough heft and charm to pass as Falstaff's younger brother.

Malvolio is stuffy without becoming a caricature; Andrew is a dolt with touches of pathos; and Olivia is beautiful enough to excite the jealousy of any Viola.

Losing her brother at sea, Viola lives vicariously through him by subsuming her own identity and serving Count Orsino as a man. Orsino is in love with the fair Olivia; but when he sends Viola to plead his suit, Olivia, thinking she's an attractive young man, falls for her in one of literature's most comical love triangles.

The BBC's ambitious Complete Works of William Shakespeare (1978-1985) did well by Shakespeare's comedies. After all, what new could they say about the tragedies?

They couldn't always get their fists on the illustrious actors they wanted. This version has a well-chosen Felicity Kendall ("Good Neighbors") as Viola. An overacting Robert Hardy is the aptly named Sir Toby Belch. Alec McCowan is fine as the tortured Malvolio. Robert Lindsay would be better (a revelation, in fact) in "Much Ado About Nothing." Feste, one of Shakespeare's hopelessly unfunny clowns, is perfectly played by Trevor Peacock.

The later movie may be slicker with bigger stars but this is an excellent fuller version of the play. It also has a wonderful set, so superior to later, minimalist sets in the series.

If you like this play catch other comedies in the Complete Works of Shakespeare series, such as "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Taming of the Shrew" and "As You Like It." All are exquisite.

This movie was absolutely delightful. It was a lovely introduction to Shakespeare, for ( if I remember correctly at a distance of 20-something years ) the 12-or-13 year old that I was back then. ( I stayed up way past midnight so that I could see the end of it - it was lucky that I was on holiday at the time! )

The casting was excellent, especially the actors chosen to play Viola and Sebastian ( they looked like they were related! ), and Malvolio. The sets were well done, and the costuming ( again from the distance of too many years ) was good. The entire production was just charming.

I would dearly like to see this movie again, if anyone knows where to get a copy of it. ( Video or DVD )

I am not a student of Shakespeare or knowledgeable.

This play moved me to tears of joy and sadness.

I have never found Shakespeare comedies funny before but this performance was excellent and funny.

The stand out performances for me were Sinead Cusack and Felicity Kendal.

I always knew Cusack was an excellent actor but Kendal was a revelation.

Buy and enjoy.

With almost no lines left out and only two scenes transposed, this is the most faithful adaptation of the play that I've found. This makes it ideal for a student who wants to study it, or a teacher who wants to teach it. While it's not as lively or as colorful as the version with Helena Bonham Carter, and while the actor who plays Viola is completely unbelievable, physically, as a male, this is nevertheless the only version to turn to when teaching Shakespeare to a class. Robert Lindsay, as Fabian, is a joy, Clive Arindelle's Orsino is sufficiently haughty for a duke, and Alec McCowen plays Malvolio to a Tee. Robert Hardy's Sir Toby pulls off drunkenness (his face even looks blotchy) and Sir Andrew (Ronnie Stevens) is a perfect fop, and quite ridiculous.

Other than Viola, the only performance I don't care for is Trevor Peacock's Feste. I think the actor playing the Fool should bring a great deal more energy and depth to the role, but everyone else is great.