[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival’s production “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” by William Shakespeare, directed by Brett Elliott and Caitlin Arndt through July 16.
“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is thought to have been Shakespeare’s first play. It’s a little more naïve than his later works, and you can see the beginnings of his oft-repeated themes of love and betrayal taking root. A charming story of two best friends since childhood, the gentlemen, Valentine and Proteus, and their lady loves. Valentine moves to Milan leaving his friend behind in Verona to pine for him. Although Proteus is in love with Julia, so he does have reason himself to stay. Valentine meanwhile falls hard for his new employer’s daughter, Silvia. “What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by?” Yes, that Silvia.
And so it all seems nice and tidy until Proteus is sent on an errand to Milan and meets Silvia, before he has even a moment to see his friend. He is smitten and the story turns to his betrayal and his plot to steal her away, in spite of her already pledging herself to Valentine. Meanwhile, Julia becomes restless with no word from her beloved, dresses as a man and journeys herself to Milan to find him…
It’s an ever-thickening plot. Made lighter by the wonderful clownish character of Launce and his dog Crabb, ever the crowd pleaser, and in this production played by a handsome Corgi, a lovely gesture to her late Majesty perhaps. The highly esteemed Kingsmen Shakespeare Company’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is performed as part of their 26th annual festival in the glorious Kingsmen Park at the California Lutheran University campus in Thousand Oaks. This might seem a way to go from NoHo for Shakespeare, but I shall remind you that the text has traveled over six thousand miles and five centuries…
This production is set in the 20s, Hollywood style. An era which lends itself quite brilliantly to this particular play, given the themes of friendship, love, women dressing as men, and galavanting around the country from court to court. The jazz and swing music also work perfectly, as do the marvelous costumes and the Busby Berkeley-esque set design! The chorus of local frogs in the stream just behind the stage serenaded us throughout this gorgeously produced and brilliantly acted play, which was the icing on the cake of this lovely production.
In the cool night air of Thousand Oaks, on the gentle grassy slopes of Kingsmen Park with actual stars peaking through the branches of the oaks, Shakespeare becomes all the more magical and this sweet, funny and charming production and its moving heartfelt and powerful performances is an absolute gift.
Everyone is brilliant, from the smallest of roles to the leads. The company is completely simpatico and the effect of all this fusion is sublime. It’s a fast-moving play, with twists and turns and robbers and plotters, but it’s romantic and hopeful and it all works out in the end…thankfully. I find myself looking for hopeful, healing stories lately, with everything going on in the world…and this play, by the wonderful Kingsmen players, is absolutely perfect!
So get in your car with a bunch of friends and make the trip to Thousand Oaks for the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” In a few weeks, they will be performing “King Lear,” which is an absolute favorite of mine so I will be back on the grass this my picnic and flask of tea!!
Tickets:
https://www.kingsmenshakespeare.org/festival/
When:
July 7-9, and July 14-16, 2023.
Park opens at 5:30pm, Show at 8:00pm
Where:
Kingsmen Park
California Lutheran University.
60 W Olsen Rd #7800, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360