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| Ryan Winkles as Valentine, Thomas Brazzle as Proteus; photo: Ava G. Lindenmaier |
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William Shakespeare's second comedy, after four history plays, one tragedy and the classic "A Comedy of Errors", was "The Two Gentlemen of Verona." Its position in the canon of his works is, and has always been, disputed, some thinking that its clear lack of maturity in the writing could make it his first produced play. It is undoubtedly based on a Spanish novel by a Portuguese author, Jorge de Montemayor. It is certainly a key piece in the later plays of the Bard of Avon with many of its elements re-used to better effect.
The undisputable fact about this play is that it is funny. Put a funny Shakespeare play into the talented hands of director Jonathan Croy and you are likely to get an even funnier show out of it. That is certainly the case in the current production at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Massachusetts. Croy has used his perfect funny bone to create more variables than Shakespeare ever put into this play. He has even given the one truly classic composition, the song "Who is Sylvia? Who is She?," into a mock modern pop-rock/rap mode that astounds the audience, especially when Thomas Brazzle, as Proteous, whips out a hand mike to sing the song accompanied by almost the entire company.
Brazzle plays one half of a pair of besties, Proteus, who loves his friend Valentine with a pure boyish passion like no other. When they are together they are always in one another's embrace. They are physical as well as emotional buddies and they support one another's falling in love with the women they meet, especially Proteus with his lady-love Julia. Valentine, played here by Ryan Winkles, is sent off to Milan to broaden himself and there he falls in love with the elusive Sylvia. Things grow complicated when Proteus joins Valentine in Milan and he also falls in love with Sylvia, ignoring his pledge of devotion to Julia. Things begin to get messy and that is where the plot takes a firm hold.
Winkles plays the romantic lead in the play with a winsomeness that is endearing. He has grace, exhibits charms, flaunts his heart-throbs and makes himself indispensible to the romance of the play. In an earlier time he would have been the exaggerated comic fop of the play but his work has grown to where he can now underplay moments and make them fully effective. His quiet moments are more effective than his earlier exhibitions of flamboyance once were. In fact, he is the ideal lead in a Shakespeare comedy as he deftly proves in this play.
Brazzle's strengths lie in his romantic bearing and his booming voice. He nearly sings every line he speaks and he exudes both genuine desire for his two ladies and complete remorse at the close of the play. In Croy's edition, however, he suffers more than Proteus has in the past which is a most interesting interpretation of the play.
Kate Abbruzzese is Julia, the first of Shakespeare's heroines to disguise herself as a boy in order to follow her lover into temporary exile from her Veronese home. Abbruzzese has a remarkable facility for reaction. As things play out around her there is a constant visual backup to the intentions of the playwright. We can see how she feels about what she witnesses and hears. Her way of playing is both outgoing and inner-space revealing and the combination gives her Julia a very special reality, especially when she is disguised as a boy.
Tamara Hickey plays her taunting maid Lucetta with humor and with great appeal. She is almost too sexy to be the maid, but she is equally funny so it works out well. There are other servants in this play as well. It is rather the upstairs/downstairs of the early Shakespeare. Jason Asprey is delightful as Speed, the manservant to Valentine. Never on time and always interested in being tipped for his services, Asprey makes him a neo-cockney and it works for the character. Peter Andersen plays the manservant of Antonio and he gets his moments to shine, mostly in the early scenes of the play.
The servant who gets the best scenes and biggest laughs, however, is Launce - often considered one of Shakespeare's greatest creations - played by John Hadden, back in the company after a 19 year hiatus working elsewhere. This is his second role for the season and his interpretation of the role sets a new classic standard for the man. Accompanied most of the time by his faithful cur, Crab, who lies down on any coat laid out for him by Launce. Hadden's role is one devoted to the spoken word in definitive contrast with the written word. Double entendre, faux interpretation, and minor puns abound in Launce and Hadden doesn't let a single one get by him. He and Asprey play several scenes together and they are all show-stopping winners.
Others in the company of fourteen players who should be singled out for their achievements include Erick Avari as The Duke - Sylvia's father, Bella Merlin as one of the outlaws, Michael Fuchs as Antonio, father of Proteus, Dylan Wittrock as Sir Thurio, Sylvia's unwanted suitor and Ella as Crab, the dog. They are all outstanding.
Croy's directing of the ensemble is both flawless and relentless. He gives each actor the impetus to get their roles right, then sends them off in a downhill race to the finish line with every moment faster than the one before it. It is an incredible pace considering that the play last two hours and forty minutes with an intermission. These actors can handle the pace, though. They look as though they are enjoying each quirky minute of it.
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