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4The New VICTORY® TheATeR / NewVICTORYSChOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42Nd STReeT, INC.

EN ROUTE AFTERBEFORE BEYOND

INSIDE provides teachers and students a behind-the-curtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. Utilize this resource to learn more about the artists on the New Victory stage, how far they’ve traveled and their inspiration for creating this show. In addition to information that will enrich your students’ experience at the theater, you will find a Creativity Page as a handout to build student anticipation around their trip to The New Victory.

MAKING CONNECTIONS TO LEARNING STANDARDS New Victory School tool Resource Guides align with the Common Core State Standards, New York State Learning Standards and New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. We believe that these standards support both the high quality instruction and deep engagement that The New Victory Theater strives to achieve in its arts education practice.

WHAT IS “INSIDE” I, MalvolIo?

INSIDE

inside | I, MALVOLIO

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COMMON CORE

Speaking and Listening: Standard 1Language: Standard 1; Standard 4; Standard 6

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS

The Arts: Standard 4English Language Arts: Standard 1; Standard 4

This section is part of a full New Victory® School toolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education

Department check out: NEWvICTORySCHOOLTOOLS.ORG

Photos: Matthew Andrews

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIvITy PAGE: HOW “MALvOLIO” ARE yOU?

BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS

Theater: Developing Literacy; Making Connections


INSIDEBEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

CLOSER LOOK AT I, MalvolIo

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS I, MalvolIo FROM?

• Tim Crouch, performing the title character and the creator of the show, is a multi-talented theater artist based in Brighton, England.

• Crouch has written several Shakespeare-inspired solos, giving voice to the bard’s supporting characters, including: I, CALIBAN (The Tempest);

I, PEASEBLOSSOM (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); and I, BANQUO (Macbeth).

• In 2010, Crouch won Best Male Performer at the Brighton Festival for I, MALVOLIO.

I, MALVOLIO is a compassionate and fearless solo performance by renowned actor, producer, director and playwright, Tim Crouch. This engaging character study offers the audience the chance to peer inside the mind of Malvolio, one of Shakespeare’s most misunderstood characters from the comedy, Twelfth Night. Crouch’s show provides an alternative point of view on the play’s twisting and turning events through Malvolio’s eyes. A prudish head-servant, Malvolio is the brunt of the play’s biggest joke, when his other housemates trick him into believing the beautiful Lady Olivia loves him by writing him a fake love letter. After completing the letter’s zany demandsin an effort to prove his love to Lady Olivia, Malvolio discovers that it was all a prank. In the unique and surprising I, MALVOLIO, the title character confronts the audience to tell his side of the tale and calls into question the line between humor and hurt.

“A story of lost dignity, prudery, practical jokes and bullying, this one-man act of story-telling alchemy draws us deep into the madness of Shakespeare’s classic comedy.” – Tim Crouch Theatre

• In 1783, the Prince Regent’s visit to Brighton helped transform the small fishing village into a fashionable resort.

• Today, Brighton is one of the UK’s most creative cities, serving as an outlet for music, dance, theater, comedy, and film.

Brighton, England

BEYOND

[ ]I, MalvolIo = Shakespeare + Tim Crouch + Solo Performance

+ Malvolio


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INSIDEBEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

SHAKESPEARE: Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets and 37 plays, many of which were performed during his lifetime before Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, making him both an Elizabethan and Jacobean writer. Shakespeare’s theater company was known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, who collectively in 1599 opened the venue that would showcase much of their work: the Globe Theater in London. In addition to playwriting, Shakespeare was also an actor who performed not only his own plays, but also in those of other playwrights.

SHAKESPEAREAN ADAPTATION: Shakespeare’s stories have been adapted in all forms of entertainment, from the Broadway musical to the Silver Screen. Many of these stories actually existed long before Shakespeare created his famous scripts based on them! In his entire canon, there are actually few original plots. Drawing from classical works, histories, and other literary sources, Shakespeare liberally adapted stories in his plays and made them his own. Today, we are still fascinated by Shakespeare’s work. Some notable modern-day adaptations include Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet, Richard Loncraine’s Richard III.

SOLO PERFORMANCE: Commonly known as “a one-man show” or a “one-woman show,” this style of performance features only one actor, playing one role or multiple roles. Solo performance was influenced by other art forms such as vaudeville, cabaret and stand-up comedy.

FOURTH WALL: The imaginary wall between the actors on stage and an audience. To “break the fourth wall” means to perform on stage fully aware of the audience, and perhaps even talk to them and involve them in the play. This style of performance is common in one-man shows, such as I, MALVOLIO, where the actor uses the audience to help tell his story.

Prior to exploring I, MALVOLIO with your students, find out how much they already know about Shakespeare, solo performance, and the fourth Wall.

Use the Prior Knowledge questions below, and the Creativity Page handout (next page) to give your students the opportunity to explore the art forms and themes in the show. You may be surprised by how much they know already, and in the process of exploring these areas, you’ll spark their curiosity to see the show and enhance their anticipation for the trip.

• Have you ever seen or read one of Shakespeare’s plays before? Which one(s)?

• What do you know about William Shakespeare?

• Why do you think people still read, study and perform Shakespeare’s work?

• Have you ever heard of the play, Twelfth Night? What is the plot? Who are the characters?

• Have you ever seen a solo performance? What was it like?

• Would you ever want to perform a play on stage by yourself? Why or why not?

• Do you know what the “fourth wall” is in theater? What do you think “breaking the fourth wall” means?

• How do you think you are going to feel when the actor talks to you from the stage? How do you think you should respond? Is there a certain way to behave or not?

• What is an adaptation? Have you ever seen an adaptation of a work by Shakespeare?

BEYOND

INSIDE THE ART FORMWHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?





Photo: Matthew Andrews

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HOW “MALVOLIO” ARE YOU?

© The New 42Nd STreeT, INc.

Twelfth Night is all about mistaken identity, and Malvolio is one of many characters in the original play. How much like Malvolio are you? Which character from the original play is most like you? Take this quiz and find out – How Malvolio are you?

I would best describe myself as…A) Organized.B) Emotional.C) Attractive.D) Hysterical.

My dream job would be…A) Police officer.B) Musician.C) Celebrity (any kind would do).D) Comedian.

If I ever found out that a crush didn’t like me back, I would…A) Change who I am.B) Wallow in self-pity.C) Move on to the next best thing! D) Play a prank on him or her.

When I get home from a long day, I like to…A) Eat dinner, clean my room, and go to bed. In that order. B) Listen to my music alone in my room and reflect on my thoughts and feelings.C) Look at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I call my friends, but only if I’m in the mood. D) Find something fun (and perhaps crazy) to do immediately. If I think hard enough, I can totally find a way to get into some trouble…

When I get into trouble, I typically…A) Admit what I did was wrong.B) Take some time to myself.C) Cry.D) Enjoy it.

Add up your score and figure out which Twelfth Night character you would most likely be mistaken for in Illyria.

As = 1 point, Bs = 2 points, Cs = 3 points, Ds = 4 points

5-7: You are Matter-of-factly MALVOLIO -- You are organized and law-abiding, but you have a hidden passion for romance. In Twelfth Night, Malvolio is the head servant who keeps order in Lady Olivia’s house. But when the other housemates play a trick on him and write him a fake love note from the beautiful Lady Olivia, he does whatever he believes will win her heart (including wearing the most ridiculous outfit). Malvolio is a complex character and therefore one of the most interesting and studied characters in all of Shakespeare’s plays!

8-12: You are Obviously ORSINO -- You have a big heart, and don’t shy away from your emotions. You embrace your feelings and shout them to the world! In Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, who does not show any interest in him. He deals with his devastation by listening to music alone is his home, surrounded by his favorite people. Duke Orsino is loving, kind, and sensitive to others. He is welcoming of strangers and open to new ideas.

13-16: You are Outstandingly OLIVIA -- You are confident, attractive, and the apple of everyone’s eye. In Twelfth Night, Lady Olivia is a wealthy, beautiful and noble lady who has many male suitors. Like Orsino, she enjoys wallowing in her own misery, but she is also confident in herself in a way that he is not. Olivia is romantic, but never takes romance too seriously.

17-20: You are Totally TOBY -- You love a laugh and enjoy practical jokes. In Twelfth Night, Sir Toby Belch is Lady Olivia’s uncle who lives with her. He loves to be rowdy and cause a ruckus in the household. He and his friend Maria (who later becomes his wife) are the conspirators behind the prank on Malvolio that sends him into madness. Toby brings the play to life with his spirit and is always ready to have a good time!


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