Twelfth Night

A BBC Radio 3 full-cast drama

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: David Tennant, Full Cast, Naomi Frederick

David Tennant stars as Malvolio in Shakespeare's comedy of disguise, madness and love.

One of Shakespeare's happiest plays, Twelfth Night is both a comedy of misrule and a trenchant attack on puritanism. Disguise and deceit leads to misadventure, madness and mistaken love. Orsino loves Olivia, but she loves Cesario, who really does love Orsino (for Cesario is actually Viola). But Malvolio believes his mistress, Olivia, loves him, as he is a victim of a trick played on him by those who would make him mad. Naomi Frederick and Paul Ready are Viola and Orsino in his sparkling BBC Radio 3 production.

What You Will

Delightful, all the way through. I've read, watched, and listened to Twelfth Night since I was 12 years old. Maria's awful and cunning letter in the hands of Malvolio has yet to lose its magic.

As you will and as you do.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story continues to entertain but it also speaks to contemporary issues regarding class, gender, friendship, and romance.

Any additional comments?

I used this performance to study for a graduate level literature exam and did very well on the exam. I recommend this performance as a study resource.

Abridged

This is an abridged/heavily edited performance. sections of dialogue omitted, scenes moved around. It was still enjoyable to listen to, but I was using it in a class, trying to have students follow along with their own books, and it was extremely difficult.