Act One begins on an Island called Illyria with the lavish Duke Orsino pouring his heart out to his servants. 'If music be the food of love, play on.' He is love sick for the beautiful Olivia, who is in mourning for her late brother and has consented to wearing a veil for seven years to pay the debt of her love to him.
We then meet Viola who has been shipwrecked on this alien island of Illyria. Her twin brother Sebastian was last seen tying himself to a piece of mast in the stormy sea. Viola, whose speech pattern begins quite irregularly due to her emotional distress, quickly pulls herself together and learns of the Duke and Olivia from the Captain shipwrecked with her.
From the way Viola speaks and what she says we can assume she is a gentlewoman of some opulence. She convinces the Captain to disguise her as a boy named Cesario so she can go to work for the Duke.
The next scene of this farcical play introduces Sir Toby Belch, a drunk uncle to Olivia, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, his wealthy drinking buddy unsuccessfully seeking Olivia's heart, and Maria, Olivia's gentlewoman who shuns the men for their loud raucous behaviour. She goes on to warn Feste, Olivia's clown, that his recent absence has angered his Lady.
Meanwhile Viola as Cesario has completely charmed Orsino who now entrusts her/him to go to Olivia and convince her she belongs with the Duke. The scene ends with a dramatic twist when Viola confesses aside that she herself has fallen for the Duke.
Viola goes to the home of Olivia who is asking for the fool to be sent away. Malvolio, Olivia's PA informs her that a young man is waiting to talk to her at the gate and refuses to leave until he has spoken to her. Olivia obliges and instructs Maria to replace her veil...
