Director-Richard Kenyon
COMING SOON
“This most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire.” Hamlet
These words spoken by Hamlet often inspire me, especially at this time of year when we perform outside on the courtyard stones. A chance to let our voices echo around the walls of this majestic villa with the words of Shakespeare and many other extraordinary writers.
On August 29th, we'll be performing "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, written between 1588 and 1594. The play dives into friendship, love, and betrayal through the adventures of Proteus and Valentine. It's known for its early use of mistaken identities and clever wordplay, which later became classic Shakespearean elements. However, it also brings some challenges for today's audiences. For instance, Proteus quickly shifts his love from Julia to Valentine's beloved Silvia and even tries to assault her, an act that's only stopped by Valentine. This scene, and how easily Proteus is forgiven afterward, clashes with modern views on consent and accountability.
The play also portrays women in a way that feels outdated now. Julia disguises herself as a page to stay close to Proteus despite his betrayal, and Silvia has little say in her situation. These portrayals reflect Shakespeare's era but don't sit well with today's emphasis on women's autonomy and empowerment. Because of these issues, "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" can be tricky to stage, often needing careful handling and reinterpretation to address its problematic aspects. It highlights how cultural and societal changes affect how we view and relate to classic works over time.
I chose Shakespeare's "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" because of this fascinating mix of friendship, love, and stupidity, and the chance to explore its more problematic parts, like the treatment of women and consent, head-on.
The play's early comedic devices, like mistaken identities and witty wordplay, offer a great chance for us to explore the play in performance. It’s also a way to show how Shakespeare's craft evolved over time, blending humor with deeper emotional and ethical questions.
Performing this play is a way to spark conversations about gender equality and personal autonomy, issues that are so powerfully prescient to today. By addressing the play's controversial parts, we can help you, our audience appreciate Shakespeare’s work while reflecting on social progress. My directing team’s goal, like all of the plays, is to create a production that's both entertaining and thought-provoking, connecting the past with the present proving at last, that Dog shall have his Day!
Thursday 700PM August 29-2024
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Copyright © Rich Kenyon. All rights reserved.