The Two Gentlemen of Verona bursting with energy

Aisha Goodman as Julia and Siân Stephens as Sylvia. Photo by Helen Murray.

Two Gentlemen of Verona at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running until 31 August . Directed by Joanna Bowman.

Review by Julie Chamberlain.

A school holidays comedy production about best mates and falling in love, with a cute dog stealing the show, can surely only be a hit.

One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays has been edited to fit into 90 minutes in what is being described as ‘the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for families’.

Best mates Proteus and Valentine say their goodbyes, as the latter leaves Verona to see the world, while the former stays there and writes letters to his love, Julia.

The Company in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Photo by Helen Murray.

It is significant in that we first meet Julia practising boxing with her maid. She may quickly fall for Proteus but she is not weak-willed walkover in this production. Proteus soon departs for his own adventures, but the love-struck couple exchange rings first.

Valentine has got no further than Milan, where he has fallen for Sylvia who returns his feelings, although her father locks her in a tower every night, and is lining up the over-eager Thurio to marry her. Proteus arrives in Milan and is instantly smitten with Sylvia, leading to the discovery that first loves and lifelong friendships are quickly forgotten when Cupid strikes.

Aisha Goodman as Julia. Photo by Helen Murray.

 As befits a play about the young, the actors playing Sylvia, Proteus and Julia are all in their debut RSC season. Aisha Goodman is particularly striking as Julia, who disguises herself as a male servant to pursue Proteus, only to discover his betrayal, from adoring a ‘twinkling star’ to worshipping ‘a celestial sun’. She is steely but controlled in her pain, and forges a friendship with Sylvia despite the latter being her love rival. Tom Babbage is also excellent as Thurio, Sylvia’s hapless suitor, at one point trying to woo her by singing beneath her window in a sparkly silver suit. He doubles as frenetic bucket hat and footie shirt-wearing servant, Speed.

The play is the only one of Shakespeare’s to feature a named dog, and Crab, played by Lossi, has several scene-stealing appearances with Stu McLoughlin, amusing as Proteus’s yokel-like servant Launce. Lossi even seemed to ad lib a well-placed yawn.

Stu McLoughlin as Launce and Lossi as Crab. Photo by Helen Murray.

 The audience are seated around the central stage of The Other Place and there’s a feeling of being in the thick of the action, with the multiple stage entrance points fully used to keep the pace fast, and sometimes appearing above us on an overhead gantry. Most of the cast perform several songs, none of them memorable, and it is a loud production with the outlaws from the forest particularly and appropriately noisy.

In the programme, director Joanna Bowman refers to ‘reimagining the play’s ending for a contemporary audience’. Near the end, one of the main characters suggesting rape of his love object in the Shakespearian original, but a happy ending ensuing has caused problems throughout its staging. Here, purists may object to the changed ending, but it does fit with what has come before and as Bowman put it, addresses the idea of forgiveness. It also suits the family-friendly aims of the production, which bursts with energy and retains enough humour and excellent lines to appeal to all ages.

For more details and to book tickets go to: https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-two-gentlemen-of-verona