Columbia Presents Shakespeare
Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy of mistaken identity, disguise, and unexpected affection. After a shipwreck separates twins Viola and Sebastian, Viola arrives in Illyria and disguises herself as a young man, taking service with Duke Orsino.
Orsino is in love with the countess Olivia, who instead falls for Viola in disguise. As messages and loyalties cross, Viola’s concealed identity complicates the courtship, while the arrival of Sebastian brings the twins’ resemblance into the story’s comic resolution. The play also follows the household’s lively comic subplot, where Sir Toby Belch and his companions play a prank on the self-important Malvolio.
Presented as a radio adaptation, the performance brings Shakespeare’s language and interwoven plots to the listener through voices and sound rather than the stage. Its blend of romantic longing, playful deception, and broad comedy makes Twelfth Night both a spirited comedy and a story of people finding their way through uncertainty.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.