Introduction

Abstract

Most of the early criticism of Twelfth Night is in fact theatrical criticism: that is, it comes from spectators rather than readers of the play. The first reference to it occurs in the diary of a young man, John Manningham, who was studying law at the Middle Temple, one of the London Inns of Court. He saw the play there, on 2 February 1602, at a special performance for the students and lawyers. It was Candlemas Day, the last day of their season of revels. He noted that the plot of the play reminded him of several earlier ones about twins: Plautus’s Menaechmi, Shakespeare’s own Comedy of Errors, and an Italian comedy called Gl’Inganni (The Deceptions). He went on to praise the ‘good practice’, or practical joke, which was played on Malvolio. This part of the story, presumably, was new to him.