Viola survived a shipwreck off the coast in which her twin brother Sebastian appears to have died. Viola decides, disguised as a boy, to enter Orsino's service. Orsino is madly in love with Olivia, but she tries to veil her face for seven years out of mourning for her deceased brother and to avoid male company. Viola, disguised as a man, wins Orsino's favor and is commissioned by him to convey his messages of love to Olivia. However, Olivia falls in love with the alleged husband Viola, while she turns to Orsino. Andreas Bleichenwang would also like to marry Olivia and with this wish he finds support from Olivia's uncle Tobias Rülp, who is after his niece's money, to finance his carriages. The nocturnal excesses of the two are, however, disturbed again and again by the manager Malvolio.