Viola

Now set against this the well-known passage from Twelfth Night where the Duke asks and Viola answers a question about someone unknown to him and invented by her—a mere phantasm, in short: yet note how much more definite is the language: —Viola.

V. Interlude: On Jargon 1916

Viola is always on the verge of revealing herself, and when she finally does it will be a matter of undressing.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

Now it seems to me that in this scene Viola is slyly admitting her love in that line and the actress playing her needs to come down hard on the word my.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

Viola is being off-handedly witty, which is her way, and taking advantage of the fact that Feste thinks she's a boy to say out loud what's in her heart.

Lance Mannion: 2009

Viola is being off-handedly witty, which is her way, and taking advantage of the fact that Feste thinks she's a boy to say out loud what's in her heart.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

Viola is in love with Orsino, but he doesn't know she exists.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

Viola is pretending to be a boy too young to grow a beard but that doesn't mean she's the same age as that boy.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

There are plenty of sex jokes and in Twelfth Night but if Viola is making one here it's the only one she makes in the whole play.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

Viola is a shyer and more timid young woman than Rosalind and Portia, Shakespeare's other famous gender-benders.

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009

It's worth trying out because it's a way for the actress and the director to ask themselves the question, What if Viola is making a dirty joke here?

Did Viola, Rosalind, and Portia wax? 2009