12.63°C Among tribes of Macbeths, endless Midsummer Dreams, and more Romeo and Juliets than a school disco, it’s so refreshing to see one of the lesser-known Shakespeare’s performed at The Headgate Theatre with such style and aplomb.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, and you can see how he built upon it for later plays. Sheila Foster’s gorgeous vision for Headgate Theatre Productions sets the play in the 1920s, and it works a treat.
It’s not a complicated plot (the standard one of lovers and servants stumbling around until true love is revealed), but even so, the speaking of the verse and the performances meant that it was easy to follow.
It’s not a complicated plot (the standard one of lovers and servants stumbling around until true love is revealed), but even so, the speaking of the verse and the performances meant that it was easy to follow. |
Two hours of fun traffic on the stage followed, with excellent performances and an outstanding costume and set design.
There’s not a weak link in the cast. As Valentine, Rowan Donaldson displayed good comedy timing, and this grew in confidence as the play went on. His friend, Proteus, was played with panache by George Deadman, and it was good to see this pair not playing thugs for a change! As Speed, Valentine’s servant, Geoge Penny gave an excellent performance, and with this pairing, you could see the template of Jeeves and Wooster.
Betsy Turner was assured and delightful as Julia crossdressing with great comedic effect, and Maddy Smith was perfectly sarcastic as her companion Julia. In Milan, Nick Edgeworth was wonderful as aggrieved suitor Turio and provided a song that was the highlight of the show, with Lucia Fox a perfect Sylvia.
I felt for Gordon Jones, who, as Proteus’s servant Lance, had to fight to get attention away from his dog Crab, a perfectly calm and lugubrious performance by Ed. But Jones did fine!
On the night I attended, some of the verse speaking was a little cautious, therefore lacking a conversational edge, and, on such an open set, the scene changes were a tad slow.
But these are forensic criticisms, very mild when placed against the overall production – a discovery of delights.
Betsy Turner was assured and delightful as Julia cross-dressing with great comedic effect, and Maddy Smith was perfectly sarcastic as her companion Julia. In Milan, Nick Edgeworth was wonderful as aggrieved suitor Turio and provided a song that was the highlight of the show, with Lucia Fox a perfect Sylvia.
I felt for Gordon Jones, who, as Proteus’s servant Lance, had to fight to get attention away from his dog Crab, a perfectly calm and lugubrious performance by Ed. But Jones did fine!
On the night I attended, some of the verse speaking was a little cautious, therefore lacking a conversational edge, and, on such an open set, the scene changes were a tad slow.
But these are forensic criticisms, very mild when placed against the overall production. A discovery of delights.
