Book Club - Shakespeare Read-Along (Act I)
"If music be the food of love, play on..."
Duke Orsino is lovesick for Olivia, but she won't give him the time of day. She won't even admit his attendant Valentine to enter.
Even the sea captain who saved Viola knows Orsino pines for Olivia, who has recently lost her husband and her brother. So Viola, who has also lost her brother, concocts a plan to serve the Duke as a eunuch.
We then meet Toby Belch, Olivia's drunk uncle. He has tried to set her up with his friend, Andrew Aguecheek, but he's a bit of a fool, and Maria does not approve.
Viola, as Cesario, is now with the Duke and says she will get admittance from Olivia. But as she goes, "Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife."
Next we meet Feste, the fool. Maria gives him a hard time for his absence, and tells him to "make your excuse wisely," as Olivia approaches. She at first tries to send him away, but he stands his ground and says she is the fool for mourning her brother, knowing he's in Heaven. He and Malvolio have some words, and Olivia seems to side with the fool.
Maria enters, advising of a young man at the gate who refuses to leave unless admitted. She sends Malvolio, and then Toby arrives. "What's a drunken man like, fool?"
"Like a drowned man, a fool, and a mad man: one draught above heat makes him a fool, the second mads him, and a third drowns him."
Malvolio returns to say the young fellow swears he will speak to her, so she asks for her veil.
She accuses Cesario of beginning rudely in his endeavor, and denies the messages from Orsino. Olivia seems intrigued by this young man though, and after turning him away, does invite him to return to convey how Orsino responded. She also sends Malvolio to follow him.
On to Act II, which we'll discuss on Tuesday!
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