Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Classic

Book Review:
If music be the food of love, play on,'' commands the lovesick Duke Orsino at the opening of Twelfth Night, and with those famous words, Shakespeare invites us into one of his most perfect and enduring comedies. It is a play of intoxicating romance, uproarious laughter, and surprisingly poignant reflections on the nature of love and self-deception.

The plot is a masterpiece of comic construction. After a shipwreck, the resourceful Viola finds herself alone in the strange land of Illyria. Believing her twin brother Sebastian to be lost at sea, she disguises herself as a young man, Cesario, and becomes a servant to the love-struck Duke Orsino. The Duke sends Cesario to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf. But Olivia, who has sworn off men, is instead captivated by the witty and charming Cesario, not knowing he is actually a woman. Viola, in turn, has fallen deeply in love with the Duke. This central love triangle is a brilliant engine of comic confusion and dramatic irony.

But Twelfth Night is so much more than its plot. It is populated by some of the most unforgettable characters in all of comedy. There is the boisterous Sir Toby Belch, whose very name sums him up, and his foolish companion, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is tricked into challenging Cesario to a duel. There is the witty and philosophical court jester, Feste, whose songs and riddles offer a wise commentary on the action. And then there is Malvolio, the self-important and puritanical steward, whose humiliation at the hands of Sir Toby and his accomplices provides some of the funniest, and most uncomfortable, scenes in Shakespeare.

The play's title refers to the twelfth night of Christmas, a time of festivity and the overturning of normal rules. And indeed, Twelfth Night is a world turned upside down, where identities are fluid, love is blind, and fools can be the wisest of all. This Penguin Classics edition, used and recommended by the National Theatre, is an excellent way to experience this masterpiece. With its comprehensive introduction by Michael Dobson, its clear and authoritative text edited by M.M. Mahood, and a general introduction by the renowned scholar Stanley Wells, it is perfect for students, actors, and general readers alike.

Twelfth Night is a play that will make you laugh, sigh, and think. It is a glorious celebration of the chaos and joy of love, a reminder that we are all, in our own ways, fools for it. As Feste sings, ''Journeys end in lovers meeting,'' and the journey of Twelfth Night is one of the most rewarding in all of literature. It is, simply put, a perfect comedy.