O Time! Thou Must Untangle This
-Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Through Shakespeare from the Ground’s Monologue Project, we shine a spotlight on Shakespeare’s speeches from our favorite characters who might not be mainstream but have meaning, make commentary, or mark a change within the play.
In Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', a sister and brother are shipwrecked and separated, and they find their way into new friends, love interests, and a case of mistaken identity. Sam White portrayed Viola in our production of 12th Night for 12th Night in January 2020 and was willing to share this one of Shakespeare’s monologues with you to help us kick off our Monologue Project.
Sam returned to the stage in our production of Twelfth Night after a three-year hiatus from the stage, but you can catch her bartending or serving at the Blues Lounge at Piggy’s when she’s not on stage or in school.
SAM WHITE AS VIOLA IN TWELFTH NIGHT:
THE MONOLOGUE: TWELFTH NIGHT, ACT II, SCENE 2, VIOLA BY SAM WHITE
“I left no ring with her: what means this lady? Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her! She made good view of me; indeed, so much, That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue, For she did speak in starts distractedly. She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion Invites me in this churlish messenger. None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none. I am the man: if it be so, as 'tis, Poor lady, she were better love a dream. Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness, Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. How easy is it for the proper-false In women's waxen hearts to set their forms! Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we! For such as we are made of, such we be. How will this fadge? my master loves her dearly; And I, poor monster, fond as much on him; And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me. What will become of this? As I am man, My state is desperate for my master's love; As I am woman,--now alas the day!-- What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe! O time! thou must untangle this, not I; It is too hard a knot for me to untie!”
MORE ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE PROJECT
Our goal of Shakespeare from the Ground’s Monologue Project is to collect a library of Shakespearean monologues to share with our community for virtual entertainment while we are still socially distanced. You don’t need to be a professional actor to participate. If you’re inspired and ready to record, great! If you need help selecting your Shakespeare Monologue or getting it recorded, reach out and we’ll help you get the ball rolling. Are you ready to take to the boards once again…virtually?
