Hi everyone!

My name is Chelsea Phillips, and I am a PhD student in the OSU Theatre Department. I will be working with the PAGES program next year when Tim Crouch’s I, Malvolio comes to Columbus. Below are a few initial resources that might be of interest.

First is an article about why the role of Malvolio appeals to so many actors, despite not being the lead role in the play:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/oct/20/twelfth-night-malvolio-richard-wilson

Second is an account of “Malvolio’s Revenge,” a mock trial staged by the Shakespeare Theatre of D.C. in 2009 in which Malvolio sued Olivia for $10 million in punitive damages (and lost):

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/04/in-twelfth-night-mock-trial-malvolio-loses.html

Finally, a link to information about the use of cue scripts. Instead of working with a whole play script, Shakespeare’s original actors received only their “parts,” rolls of paper including all of the lines for their character, plus 1-3 words that cue each line. Without knowing exactly when their cue was coming, an actor had to listen carefully and be ready to jump in with their next line. Sometimes, considering what a part might have looked like in cue script form can bring new insight into a character or scene. In addition to the Twelfth Night example, check out the example from The Merchant of Venice to see what a big impact cue scripts can have on performance:

http://www.folger.edu/eduLesPlanDtl.cfm?lpid=741

Happy reading!

Chelsea