In Scene 3
depicts Lady Viola, disguised as a boy named Thomas Kent, auditioning for the
part of Romeo for the weary Bard, who has been listening all day to
mechanical speeches from other candidates for the role. But Shakespeare
recognizes true feeling in Thomas’ performance, and in an effort to discover
the identity of the young actor, follows the “boy” home.The scene concludes with the Lady Viola
returning home and nearly appearing before her mother in her boy’s disguise.Viola’s mother and father have been
arranging a marriage for her to a titled aristocrat.At this point, the reality of Viola’s
future as a woman to be bought and sold in marriage will begin to vie with
her dream of the stage and true love as she decides to continue her stage
disguise as Thomas Kent.
