When Viola is separated from her twin brother Sebastian after a shipwreck, she takes on the guise of a boy to serve Orsino, the Duke of Illyria. Orsino is deeply inove with Olivia and Viola is sent to woo her on his behalf. She does this so successfully that she finds herself the object of Olivia's affections. Things get even more complicated with the arrival of Sebastian. Olivia's steward, Malvolio and uncle, Toby, add to the general confusion, trickery and deceit, in this, one of Shakespeare's funniest and most delightful plays.