Act 3, Scene 4 – How would I play Malvolio?
First impressions are always very important and Malvolio’s must set his character for the whole scene. Socially during Twelfth Night’s era the maid would enter a room before the guest that showed them where the room was and they often renounced the visitor the master/mistress. But given Malvolio’s current mood he would be so eager to speak to Olivia he may want to enter the room first. Upon my entrance I will have a sort of “pushing contest” with Maria in the doorframe so that I could get through first. When I actually manage to get in front of Maria I will brush my clothes haughtily with quick movements to show that Maria is below me. I will then raise my head up high to make sure that Maria understands her place.
On Malvolio’s first line I will bend down on one knee in front of Olivia and kiss her hand twice to exaggerate my inappropriate behaviour; Malvolio is Olivia’s butler and does not carry the status to kiss her hand. Soon as I hear Olivia say “sad occasion” I will beam at her because Malvolio would think she was being sarcastic due to the letter that he received. I will raise my eyebrows on my next line and almost laugh while speaking. At the words “I could be sad” I will pout a bit while speaking to notify Olivia that I understand her ‘sarcasm’. I will get up then and stand facing the audience. I will also stress the word “some” and shake one leg towards Olivia suggestively at “cross - gartering” and put it down immediately after. I will then sit right next to Olivia and point at her eye when I say, “If it please the eye of one”. Upon my final word on line 22, I will put my arm on top of Olivia’s knee and look down at it suggestively because Malvolio thinks that Olivia wrote the letter to confirm her affections towards him.
