Two Gentlemen of Verona – review

Tobacco Factory, Bristol

practice makes perfect, even for Shakespeare. Although this initial effort would have won a prize of the most promising playwright, which is far from his more finished. It is not without interest - but because you can see how Shakespeare himself subsequently taken. Clowns servant Launce and speed, are shown in a double act better than two Dromios in The Comedy of Errors. The game offers the same lines and situations that are much more familiar Romeo and Juliet, The Winter's Tale and As You Like It. And the quartet of young lovers here are close cousins ??to those found in The Dream of a summer night.

But as the revival of Andrew Hilton test, it would be wrong to dismiss two gentlemen as a curiosity. It has charm and good humor, love is tested and found wanting among the four budding amateurs. When Valentine moves from Verona to Milan, he left behind his best friend, Proteus, who can not bear to part with his beloved Julia, but not yet declared. He soon became, and he and Julia exchange cards, but when - after his father - Proteus made trips to Milan, is soon forgotten when he meets Julia loved Valentine, Silvia. He is so determined to win Silvia he thinks nothing of ruining the happiness of his friend and betray Julia.

• Production
Hilton - transposition elegantly program for the Edwardian period - has all the virtues that have become associated with Shakespeare in this direction, as the clarity of the narrative and the detailed characterization. Hilton is very good, too, in the dark undercurrents, the more unpleasant story. But the production does not have a lightness of touch and does not quite convey the giddy absurdity of young love that scene really necessary if the public will accept and forgive the atrocious behavior of Proteus and forced happy ending . Some songs are weak, and musical interludes slow action.

However, there is much to enjoy - even if she says something that the production and the public are still dog the presence perkiest Launce, Crab (dark star turn by Lollius). It is difficult for human players to compete with many canine charisma, but Dorothea Myer-Bennett as Julia and Silvia Lisa Kay are both a pleasure and a final suggests that they were not in any sense their future husbands.

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