A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories
Page 4
Prospero was pleased. “Then bring me Alonso’s son, Ferdinand,” he said. Ariel made a bow, spun about and vanished.
Prospero turned to his cave at the foot of the cliff nearby. Grunts and groans echoed within, then out of the gloom shuffled Caliban; an ugly, scaly-skinned creature, half-man and half-monster. Caliban was the son of the witch Sycorax and had been left alone on the island when she died. Now, resentfully, he served Prospero. When he saw his hated master he scowled and cursed under his breath.
“I hear your wicked words, Caliban,” said Prospero. “For that you will be punished tonight with cramps and stitches!”
“Why are you mean to me?” whined Caliban. “This island was all my own until you took it from me. When you first came you treated me kindly and I showed you where to find food and water. Now you treat me as a slave and torment me.” Caliban clambered onto the rocks and pointed a finger at Prospero. “Toads, beetles and bats rain down on you!” he cried.
“You’re nothing but a villain,” said Prospero angrily. “I gave you a home in my own cave and taught you to speak but you repaid my kindness by trying to steal Miranda away.” He raised his hand and Caliban cowered. “Get out of my sight and fetch the firewood, or I’ll make your bones ache so much that wild beasts will tremble at the sound of your roar.”
Afraid of the wizard’s mighty power, Caliban scuttled away into the woods, and obediently collected firewood. A short while later, he heard voices nearby. Caliban crept close. Alonso’s jester and butler had also jumped from the storm-tossed ship and been cast up onto the island where, to their delight, they’d found a barrel of wine.
Caliban saw a chance for revenge on Prospero. He greeted the strangers, who were too drunk to be afraid of him. “Oh, great gods!” Caliban cried, bowing before them. “Save me, I beg you, for I am the slave of a wicked master. If you can get rid of him this island will be yours and I will serve you instead.”
The jester nudged the butler and they both giggled. This is a fine adventure, they thought.
“I can lead you to the place where my master sleeps every afternoon,” said Caliban cunningly. He waved a heavy club and grinned. “The rest is easy.”
Wine had made the two men bold. They agreed to follow Caliban. “Lead on, monster,” cried the butler. “We’ll do as you say. I shall be King of this island and you and the jester shall both be Princes!”
Nobody noticed lights sparkling among the branches above as Ariel, sat in a tree, listened to every word.
Ariel flew away to fetch Ferdinand. He found him in a leafy glade, sitting with his head in his hands, full of sorrow at the loss of his father who he was sure must be drowned. Ariel made himself invisible and began to sing.
Ferdinand looked up. “This is the same voice that I followed as I swam for my life,” he said. “And these are the strange, enchanting lights that led me to safety.” He rose to his feet as if in a dream and followed Ariel through the wood.
When Prospero saw Ferdinand approach, he woke Miranda from her sleep. She gazed at the handsome young prince in wonder.
“Is this a spirit?” she asked, for she had never seen any man except her father.
“No, he eats and sleeps, just like us,” Prospero assured her. “He was travelling on the ship and now searches for his lost companions.”
Ariel’s song ended and Ferdinand woke from his trance to see Miranda’s beautiful face before him.
“I should have guessed that such heavenly music was playing for a goddess,” he sighed, staring at her in amazement.
Miranda blushed. “I’m not a goddess,” she said shyly.
Prospero saw that Miranda and Ferdinand had fallen in love at first sight. “They only have eyes for each other,” he thought, with satisfaction. “My plan goes well.”
Then Ariel told his master about Caliban’s murderous plot.
“We must find a way to delay him,” said Prospero, “for there is still more to be done to put things right here.”
On the other side of the island, Alonso and Antonio had been walking for hours looking for Ferdinand. Alonso feared that his son had drowned. “I’m sure some strange fish has made a meal of him,” he sighed woefully. Tired and losing hope, they came to a woodland clearing. To their surprise a table stood before them, mysteriously set with a rich banquet of food.
“This island is a strange, enchanted place,” said Alonso, warily. “If that banquet is real then I’ll believe in unicorns!” The two hungry men held back afraid, but the delicious smell of the food became irresistible. However, as soon as they touched the dishes they were dazzled by a flash of light.
Ariel appeared as a huge bird of prey with a human head. He hovered over the food menacingly. Alonso and Antonio shrank away from his sharp talons.
“Why have you come to torment us?” they asked.
Ariel fixed them with a piercing stare. “You took what belonged to Duke Prospero,” he cried. “You left him and his daughter to the mercy of the sea. Now Fate has robbed you of your son, Alonso, and brought you both to this desolate island to suffer your punishment.”
Alonso and Antonio realised the terrible consequence of what they had done. “I should never have betrayed my brother’s trust,” said Antonio.
“We sent Prospero and Miranda away to die,” sighed Alonso sorrowfully. They were both filled with shame.
Ariel opened his wings as if to swoop down upon them but with a clap of thunder he disappeared, the table vanished and they were left alone.
Unseen, Ariel flew off to find Caliban, who was leading his new friends through the wood towards Prospero’s cave. “This task will be more entertaining,” Ariel said to himself. He called up the dark spirits of the island who came bounding out of the shadows as huge red-eyed hunting dogs.
Caliban and his drunken friends stopped in their tracks. They stared in horror at the terrifying hounds, then turned on their heels and ran for their lives, shrieking as they crashed through the brambles and thorns.
Prospero appeared at Ariel’s side. “You’ve served me well, sweet Ariel,” he said. “Now my enemies are all at my mercy.”
“Alonso and Antonio are full of regret for what they did to you,” Ariel assured him.
“Then that is all I wish,” said Prospero. “Bring them to me now. Although I have good reason for revenge, it is better to forgive.”
Prospero returned to the beach. There, he drew a circle in the sand with his staff. Alonso and Antonio stepped out of the trees into the circle. At first they didn’t recognise Prospero but when he removed his magic cloak they gasped to see the old Duke, who they thought had died at sea long ago. Alonso and Antonio sank to their knees and begged forgiveness for their treacherous acts. Seeing they were truly sorry, Prospero forgave them both.
“Your home and title shall be restored to you,” promised Alonso. “But sadly, I can never regain the son I lost in the storm.”
Prospero nodded thoughtfully. “I lost my daughter in the storm, too,” he said.
Alonso wept with pity for them both. “I’d give my life to take my son’s place sleeping on the muddy seabed,” he said. “If only our children could be alive as King and Queen of Naples.”
“Let’s rest awhile,” suggested Prospero, and he led the way to his cave.
To Alonso’s astonishment, when they came to the cave, they found Ferdinand and Miranda, very much alive and in love. Alonso and his son were joyfully reunited. Then Prospero laid down his magic staff, for all was right with the world once more.
A shower of lights danced and sparkled in the sunlight. “Ariel, my tricksy spirit!” Prospero greeted him with thanks. “My enemies are now my friends and our children, joined in love, shall build a better world together. Gather the castaways, go wake the crew and bring us the ship. I release you from my service to fly free as the sea spray.”
And so it was time for everyone to leave the magical world of spirits and sail home.
Only Caliban remained, happy at last to be King of his island o
nce more.
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Viola / Cesario
Sebastian’s sister disguised as Duke Orsino’s page
Sebastian
Viola’s twin brother, lost at sea
Olivia
A Countess, in mourning
Sir Toby Belch
Olivia’s uncle, a merry old man
Orsino
Duke of Illyria, in love with Olivia
Maria
Olivia’s maid
Malvolio
Olivia’s steward
Sir Andrew
Friend of Sir Toby’s
TWELFTH NIGHT
Duke Orsino lived by the rocky coast of Illyria. Every day he gazed out at the sparkling sapphire sea and sighed for love of the beautiful Countess Olivia. Orsino desperately longed to marry her, but Olivia’s brother had recently died and she’d vowed to live in mourning for seven years. To the Duke’s dismay, she refused to see him, or even read his love letters.
Nevertheless, Orsino wouldn’t be put off. He enjoyed being in love, even if his feelings were rejected. Love filled him with romantic dreams and poetry. “If music is the food of love, play on!” he told his minstrels. Happy or sad, the Duke loved to be in love.
“Olivia shows deep affection for her brother,” he said to his new page, Cesario, one day. “Imagine how much she’ll love me when I make her my wife.”
Cesario gazed at the Duke’s handsome face and nodded silently.
Little did the Duke know that he wasn’t the only one in love; Cesario was really a young woman called Viola, who had disguised herself to work at the Duke’s house and had fallen in love with him. Three months earlier, Viola had been on a voyage with her twin brother, Sebastian, when their ship was wrecked in a storm. Viola clung to the broken mast and was washed up on the shore near the Duke’s house, but sadly her brother couldn’t be found and she feared he had drowned. However, Viola was not the sort of girl to sit and weep over her misfortune for long. Among the wreckage she discovered a chest of clothes and decided it would be easier to get by in the world alone if she pretended to be a man. It was a disguise that not only concealed her identity but, before long, also hid her secret love for Orsino.
Orsino was pleased with the new page, who had soon become his favourite. “You have such a sweet face and a gentle voice, Cesario,” he said one day, “I’m sure Olivia couldn’t turn you away. Go to her house and tell her how much I long to have her for my wife. Refuse to leave until she lets you speak.”
Viola’s heart sank. “What a task,” she sighed to herself as she set off along the cliff path. “I must win a wife for the man I love myself!”
At the gate of Olivia’s house, Viola was met by Malvolio, the steward who ran her household.
“You’re wasting your time,” Malvolio said when he heard her request. “My Mistress refuses to receive any young men.”
“Well, I refuse to leave without speaking to her,” replied Viola stubbornly. Exasperated, Malvolio went to tell Olivia. The Countess was intrigued by this determined visitor and, having nothing better to do, agreed to see him.
Viola greeted Olivia with praise. “Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty,” she began, “my master adores you, with groans that thunder love and sighs of fire.”
Olivia felt her cheeks blush at the sight of the striking young man before her, who spoke with such passion. The more Olivia listened to Viola’s flattering words, the more she forgot her objection to love. But it was the messenger who stirred her heart, not the master!
“Although the Duke is a fine and noble man, I cannot love him,” Olivia told Viola. “Give your master this reply, Cesario, but return at once to tell me how he takes the news.”
Viola knew that the Duke would be disappointed. “I did my best,” she thought to herself. “If only I could take Olivia’s place in Orsino’s heart.”
As Viola walked away from the house, Malvolio called her back. He handed her a gold ring. “It seems you left this with my mistress,” he said, “but she wishes you to have it.” And with a disapproving frown he turned and shut the door.
Viola was puzzled. “I didn’t bring a ring, why would Olivia wish me to have one?” With shock she realised that it must be a love token. “Oh dear, the Countess would do better to love a dream,” Viola sighed. “I never guessed this disguise would cause so much trouble. Olivia has fallen in love with me, but I love the Duke and he only has eyes for Olivia. This knot is too hard for me to untangle!”
Although Olivia had made a vow to mourn for seven years her house was far from quiet, for it was also home to her uncle, Sir Toby Belch, a merry old man who loved feasting, drinking and having fun. Sir Toby was often joined by his rich, dim-witted friend, Sir Andrew, who he hoped would one day marry Olivia.
That evening, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew made so much noise with their rowdy laughter that Malvolio appeared in his nightclothes. “You make this place sound like an ale-house!” he complained. “If you don’t stop this bad behaviour then my Lady will turn you out.”
When Malvolio had gone back to bed, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew decided to get their own back by having some fun at his expense. Olivia’s maid, Maria, offered to help.
“Malvolio thinks he is so crammed with excellence that everyone admires him,” Maria said, “but that’s his weakness. Tomorrow, I’ll write a letter in Lady Olivia’s handwriting that will make Malvolio believe she loves him. All you have to do is hide and watch how he makes a fool of himself.”
“Excellent!” said Sir Toby and Sir Andrew and they chuckled with anticipation.
Next day, as Malvolio was walking through the garden imagining what a fine Count he would make, he found a letter in what looked like Olivia’s handwriting, lying on the path. He didn’t notice Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria watching from behind a bush.
The letter fell open in his hand. “To my secret love,” he read. “Although I am above you, do not fear greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Forget your humble position and act as my equal. If you love me, show me with a smile and wear the yellow stockings I admire.”
Malvolio gazed at the letter in a daze. “The stars be praised. Lady Olivia loves me!” he cried. “I will do everything she asks.” He hurried off at once to find his yellow stockings.
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew exploded with laughter.
“Lady Olivia loathes those yellow stockings,” giggled Maria. “And she won’t like Malvolio’s creepy smile either. Ever since the Duke’s messenger came here she’s been all out of sorts.”
“Here’s the fellow again!” said Sir Toby. “Look! Let’s hide to see what message he brings this time.”
Viola walked up the path, her heart heavy to see Olivia come out to meet her. As Viola had expected, Duke Orsino wouldn’t accept Olivia’s rejection. He had sent her back with a gift of a jewelled brooch, which she now gave to Olivia.
“I wish the Duke’s thoughts were empty, rather than filled with me,” said Olivia with a sigh. She took Viola’s hand. “Won’t you wear the ring I sent, Cesario? You are the one I love.”
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew were astonished at what they heard. They slipped away, back to the house.
“The Countess shows this page more affection than she’s ever shown me!” exclaimed Sir Andrew.
“No, no,” replied Sir Toby, seeing a chance for mischief. “Olivia must have noticed we were listening. She’s trying to stir you up to fight for her! You must impress her by challenging that young page to a duel.” Fired with jealousy, Sir Andrew agreed and went off to fetch his sword.
Sir Toby grinned to himself. “That hopeless fool hasn’t got a clue about duelling,” he thought, “and the page is obviously as gentle as a lamb. I’m sure they couldn’t harm each other if they tried but it’ll be fun to watch!”
Meanwhile, Viola wished that she didn’t have to deceive poor love-struck Olivia but
she couldn’t reveal the truth. “I’m not what I seem, my lady,” she said gently. “No woman will ever be mistress of my heart.” And with that she tugged her hand free and hurried away through the garden.
Olivia sat in the orchard feeling miserable. “What can I do to make Cesario change his mind?” she wondered. Her thoughts were disturbed by the maid, Maria, who came running up with a worried look.
“I’ve come to warn you about Malvolio, my lady,” she said. “He’s acting very strange.”
At that moment Malvolio came strutting down the path, wearing yellow stockings and a creepy smile.
“Why do you smile like that, Malvolio?” asked Olivia.
“To please my sweetheart,” said Malvolio, grinning from ear to ear. He plucked a rose and offered it to Olivia. “See, it’s yellow to match the stockings she adores.” Then to Olivia’s amazement he blew her a kiss.
“How dare you be so bold with my lady,” said Maria, trying hard not to laugh.
“Some of us will soon have greatness thrust upon them,” Malvolio replied grandly and he pranced before them in his yellow stockings like a frolicking jester.
Olivia stared in bewilderment. “I do believe Malvolio has completely lost his senses, Maria,” she said. “Take him away and have the doctor put him to bed for a week!”
While Malvolio was acting out this strange pantomime, Viola left Olivia’s house, thinking that she’d had a narrow escape. But Sir Andrew, egged on by Sir Toby, was waiting for her in the street.
“I challenge you to a duel, knave!” Sir Andrew cried and he drew his sword.
Viola was terrified. “I’ve done nothing wrong,” she stuttered. “Please let me pass.”
At that moment, a rough-looking sailor appeared. “If you have a problem with this gentleman then you can fight me,” he growled at Sir Andrew and he began rolling up his sleeves right there and then.