Trevor Nunn's direction of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" takes away some of the confusion present in the reading of the text, which begins with the complicated love interests of the main characters. Having been the artistic director for the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company for eighteen years, Nunn is vastly familiar with adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. Part of the comedy of this film develops from the first three acts of the play, which allow for a complex circle of interaction to develop within the film. Nunn's use of the prologue at the beginning of the film presents crucial information in an easy to understand, witty way. The film's prologue makes clear much of the play's primary confusion, and establishes the foundation on which the rest of the film may balance upon.

Nunn's adaptation of "Twelfth Night" begins with the founding relationship in the play, the designs that Orsino expresses for Olivia. It is clear that this first interaction is the basis for others that occur, and it is also clear that both Shakespeare and Nunn utilize this interaction to create the comedic effects that happen because of the subsequent love interests. Orsino is not just

Malvolio is the underlying driving force of the love relationships, and is considerably responsible for the outcome of these affairs. Malvolio has a hidden hope through some mystical action, that Olivia will establish her love for him and protest it to him. However, Maria plots to shake-up Malvolio, and allows him to misinterpret information about Olivia that suggests her love for Malvolio. As a result, Malvolio is stirred into believing that there is an existing love between he and Olivia, even though it is a falsified creation of Maria.

The breakdown of Malvolio in the foyer of Olivia's home brings to an end, for a brief moment, the comedic conflict that was present throughout the film. The comedy turns to sadness, as Olivia states that Malvolio has been "most notoriously abused". This sadness turns to anger in Malvolio as he exits and vows, "I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you"! However, the comedic conflict and love returns quickly, as everyone is paired with someone to love and enjoying their fortunes. Nunn's addition of the wedding scene provides an ending with closure, something Shakespeare's play was lacking. Feste closes the film with a song of the various stages of life, putting all of the profound meanings of life into this "comedy".

Some common words found in the essay are:
Sebastian Illyria, Malvolio's Puritanesque, Olivia Viola, Duke Orsino, Maria Malvolio's, Feste Malvolio, Olivia Malvolio, Shakespeare Company, Malvolio Olivia, Orsino Viola's, comedic conflict, love olivia, twelfth night, brotherly love, love love, comedic conflict love, love viola, nunn's adaptation, orsino viola, love duke, viola sebastian, brotherly love olivia, comedic conflict occurs, share familial love, bibliography twelfth night,
Approximate Word count = 2012
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)