Twelfth Night

Synopsis: Live sound recording of Peter Gill’s 1975 production of Twelfth Night for the Royal Shakespeare Company with Jane Lapotaire as Viola and John Price as Orsino. Nicol Williamson is Malvolio.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Audio
Recording date: 18 Feb 1975

General: The dominating idea of this production was expressed by a mural of Narcissus gazing into a pool, painted across the back wall of the bare set. Elizabethan costumes were worn on an almost bare, white stage. The presence in Illyria of Viola and Sebastian enabled some of its narcissists to escape their solipsism. The slender Jane Lapotaire looked convincingly boyish in her disguise. Orsino’s ambivalent sexuality expressed itself in his languid caresses and easy, physical intimacy with his new page boy. As Malvolio, Nicol Williamson spoke in haughty tones until the extremity of his sufferings made it impossible for him to control himself and his native Welsh accent broke out. [RSC Exploring Shakespeare site http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/plays/3002_2969.htm (accessed 12/2008)].
History: Press night 6 February 1975

Jane Lapotaire	Viola (later disguised as Cesario)
Mary Rutherford	Olivia
John Price (2)	Orsino, Duke of Illyria
Nicol Williamson	Malvolio
Ron Pember	Feste
Angela Phillips	Lady
Anthony O’Donnell	Officer
Brian Hall	Fabian
David Waller	Sir Toby Belch
Frank Thornton	Sir Andrew Aguecheek
George Fenton	Gentleman
Louis Sheldon	Curio
Mark Dowse	Priest
Mark Dowse	Captain
Mary Duddy	Lady
Patricia Hayes	Maria
Paul Moriarty	Antonio
Richard Griffiths	Officer
Robert Lloyd	Sebastian

British Universities Film & Video Council