twelfth night

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 9:37pm

Hey, so to anyone who saw the recent Central Park production, or just knows the show in general, I have a question. I'm doing a monologue from the show for an audition, and I'd just like to know more about the given circumstances. It's Sebastian's monologue Act 4 Scene 3. It starts with "This is the air, that is the glorious sun." Exactly what he talking about? I know he's questioning a lot of things, but I'm admittedly a little dumb with Shakespeare. He says, in the monologue, that his friend Antonio went all around town to find him, but why exactly? Also, and this maybe really stupid, but he says he didn't see him at the Elephant? What does that mean exactly? And do you just pronounce it like you would "elephant?" Thanks! I know these are stupid questions, but anything would help!
Updated On: 8/6/09 at 09:37 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 9:45pm

The Elephant is an Inn.

[A Director]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 2:41am

Here's a novel suggestion, why don't you read the entire play. Did you find the monologue in a book of monologues? If you read the play, you will know more about the story and the character.

The Elephant was an inn near the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare put an inside joke in the play.

[tellybox]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:52am

Agreed. If you really want to do the monologue some justice, read the play (it's worth your time), grab a Shakespeare lexicon, and figure the sucker out for yourself.

The time spent doing that will show in your audition, guaranteed. Plus, half the fun of doing a Shakespeare monologue is discovering what it's all about, jokes and nuances and all.

Enjoy! Have fun! And break a leg! :)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 10:20am

Oh, I totally agree, but I just found out about it, and therefore no time to re-read the play. I read it awhile back, so I'm a little hazy on details.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:05pm

I don't remember where that monologue falls in the play. Is that right after he spends the night with Olivia? If I had just had sex after nearly drowning and then being cooped up with a pirate for 4 months, I'd be praising the sun and the sky, too.

Taken from SparkNotes (aka the FIRST result when I Googled "Twelfth Night"):
Summary: Act IV, scene iii
Elsewhere in the house, Sebastian is wandering, dazed yet happy. He is very confused: he doesn?t seem to be insane, and yet a beautiful woman?Olivia?has been giving him gifts and wants to marry him. He wishes he could find Antonio to discuss the situation with him. He states, however, that when he went back to their inn, Antonio was nowhere to be seen. Olivia now returns with a priest, asking Sebastian (who she still thinks is Cesario) if he is still willing to marry her. Sebastian happily agrees, and they go off to get married.

[jansal]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:58pm

The way it was done recently in the park, Sebastian is so baffled (but pleasantly so, because he just slept with Olivia), and he simply states what IS; i.e what he knows to be certain. Because he has absolutely no idea how he got into this situation. But he's also not complaining. And neither would I, if Audra McDonald seduced me ;p.