Twelfth Night Analysis

On Thursday April 14, 2016 my wife and I attended University of South Carolina at Aiken’s production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the O’Connell Theater. As we walked into to the theater the mood changed from being formal out front with the ticket takers to a more laid back beachy atmosphere inside. The theater was small but cozy, most of the attendees were dressed in very casual attire. We chose our seats on the front row, they were so close I could use the simulated golf course at a foot stool. The energy of the audience was very vibrant much like the set that towered over the stage mimicking a feel of Key West Florida. The stage had bright colors and lights reminding me of episodes of Miami Vice. There was music playing from

The sets were built with a feeling of south Florida the setting of our play. You could see the main home of Lady Olivia enveloping half of the stage. The home covered in the pastel colors of Sonny Crockets wardrobe of 1980’s Florida brought alive the location of this productions. There was also a putting green if you will at the edge of the stage pulling the audience in closer the characters word. Also towering the stage was a wooden boardwalk entrance that seem to lead to a beach with an ocean portrayed by the audience. The light was bright and vibrant for a majority of the play. However there were scenes that took play during a stormy ship wreck that made you feel cold and wet. The sound during the shipwreck scene also help promote this cold wet atmosphere. Throughout the play sound played a big role in helping to set the location and mood of the performance. Between the environmental sounds and music played by the fools there was no doubt of the 1980’s locale. As for the costumes of the play, they were extravagant with color and line, a factor that was exploited in the 1980’s especial in the Miami and southern regions of Florida. I think the most exuberant costume was that of Malvolio when he puts of the yellow garments trying to swoon Lady Olivia. As you can tell I think the design elements were right on cue with the location and setting of the