The Seacoast
Narrator: Meanwhile, off the coast of Illyria, a young girl named Viola has been shipwrecked. She tells the ship’s captain, with whom she has been stranded, that she fears her twin brother Sebastian has drowned. But the sea captain gives Viola hope that her brother might indeed have survived. Being thus encouraged, Viola decides to make a life for herself in this strange land by disguising herself as a boy and joining Duke Orsino’s household.
(The Captain enters, followed by Viola. They stop Center Stage.)
Viola: (Looking around.) What country, friend, is this?
Captain: This is Illyria, lady.
Viola: And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium. [Heaven]
Perchance he is not drowned. What think you, sailor?
Captain: It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
Viola: O my poor brother, and so perchance may he be.
Captain: True, madam; and, to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
When you, and those poor number saved with you,
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself
(Courage and hope both teaching him the practice)
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
(As the Captain speaks he looks out over the audience and moves his Upstage arm in a gesture to capture the motion of the waves as he relives the moment.)
Where, like Arion on the dolphin’s back,
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
So long as I could see.
Viola: For saying so there’s gold.
My own escape unfoldeth to my hope.
Who governs here?
Captain: (Crossing in front of Viola to Stage Right.) A noble duke, in nature as in name.
Viola: What is his name?
Captain: Orsino.
Viola: Orsino! I have heard my father name him.
He was a bachelor then.
Captain: And so is now, or was so very late.
Viola: I prithee (and I’ll pay thee bounteously)
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke.
Thou shalt present me as a eunuch to him;
It may be worth thy pains. For I can sing,
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap, to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
Captain: Be you his eunuch, and your mute I’ll be;
When my tongue blabs, then let my eyes not see.
Viola: I thank thee. Lead me on.
(The Captain crosses in front of Viola and exits Upstage Left. Viola follows.)