Wednesday, January 15, 1997
THEATER:
Director’s debut sets Shakespeare’s love-triangle comedy in
England and AmericaBy Goutami Mikkilineni
Daily Bruin Contributor
In their opening weekend, the Knightsbridge players put on an
enjoyable, classy and intelligent performance of the popular
Shakespeare play "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" in a small Pasadena
theater.
Until spring, director Nancy Jane Smeets stages "The Two
Gentlemen of Verona" during the glamourous flapper era of the
1920s. Like most of Shakespeare’s comedies, this early piece deals
with universal themes of love and fidelity while it naturally ends
with multiple marriages. There’s even a penchant for cross-dressing
for those deviant Shakespeare fans who might have enjoyed the film
production of "Twelfth Night."
Smeets sets the play in England and America, as it opens with
the first young couple of Julia and Proteus proclaiming their
everlasting love on the eve of Proteus’ departure to America. There
he is to rendezvous with his old friend Valentine (Darren Pettie),
who works under the duke (an American duke, oddly enough). He
scribes love letters for the duke’s daughter Silvia (Deborah Guyer
Greene), who happens to be in love with the common Valentine. The
love triangles begin when Proteus arrives, smitten with Silvia, and
forgets his vows to Julia. Enter Thurio (Julian Simmons), the
duke’s favorite of Silvia’s suitors, and the love poetry mix-ups
and games begin.
All of this comes with brilliant side commentaries directed at
the audience by Shakespeare’s famous clowns, played by Dana Moran
and Jason Asprey. Kathleen McGovern lurks around disguised as an
assistant in drag to witness her beloved Proteus betray their love
as well as his friends. The ending comes with forgiveness from all
the betrayed lovers and approval from the duke for a grand wedding
between all the couples.
The setting in the roaring ’20s gives the play a quick, lively
atmosphere. The scenery changes between acts are accompanied by
1920s cocktail music and the costumes make the characters look like
pages of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The culmination of all this
helps the audience get past the obviousness that the two men are
not "of Verona," but more like rich golfing coeds with girlfriends
who have bobbed hair.
The set design in the small theater is intricate in its detail
and in relation to the plot of the play. The aisle between the
audience’s seats serves as the point of entrance for many of the
scenes. The size of the stage and the theater adds to the audience
participation.
The two clowns also bring about an interactive atmosphere by
telling the audience the silly antics of their masters. Speed
(Moran) is hilarious with his witty, snide comments on
relationships and the intelligence of the high society players.
Asprey is brilliant as Lance, an alcoholic with a dog (a genuine
canine who captured the hearts of the audience) who has never shed
a tear for him, which he constantly laments to the audience.
Both clowns have great physical stage presence and move very
well throughout the piece. Their energy gives the play a
contemporary feeling as they pull the audience into the universal
themes of women’s faithfulness juxtaposed to men’s need for
"novelty." In Smeets’ directorial debut, she successfully captures
the feelings of women betrayed by men who trade what they have for
the excitement of a chase. A touching scene in the last act shows
the relationship between the two leading ladies, as their lips
quiver in profound sadness because they must deal with the faults
of men.
Overall, the play is an entertaining evening in a stylish
atmosphere of a lost time period. The play is a wonderful vehicle
in addressing prevalent relationship issues today and a bit more
thought-provoking than the likes of "Jerry Maguire," another
romantic comedy.
THEATER: "Two Gentlemen of Verona" runs Saturdays and Sundays
through March 2. Information: (818) 440-0821.