How does Malvolio reflect contemporary attitudes against the theatre in Twelfth Night?

Let us remember that Malvolio is described, rather
insultingly by Sir Toby and Maria, as a "very Puritan." Puritans stood against drama and
the theatre in Shakespeare's day, and their approach to religion was to adopt an
incredibly plain form of worship. Their clothes were just black and white, and any form
of merriment or diversion was frowned upon, meaning that theatregoing was completely
out. Thus we can see in the way that Malvolio is punished that perhaps Shakespeare is
definitely going for the crowd pleasing approach. The scenes where Malvolio is abused
and locked in a dungeon, and made to believe that his mistress is in love with him,
would have been hilarious to an audience of theatregoers who probably disagreed with the
Puritan creed of simplicity and to whom Purtains were figures of fun. Let us remember
that the Puritans faced so much opposition in various forms that they left to found a
new religious community in New England on the Mayflower. Thus we can see in the
character of Malvolio the stark simplicity and theology of denial that was so unpopular
in Shakespeare's day. Malvolio is a character who would have opposed the merriment of
the theatre, and so having him punished in such a public way through that medium adds to
the irony of the situation.