Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona is one his early plays, a comedy/romance featuring two friends, Proteus (played by Chris Bresky) and Valentine (Charles Pasternak) who go in search of their true loves. Julia (Lee Stark) and Silvia (Ashley Wickett) play the two ladies in question. Comic relief is found in servant Launce (Ryan Artzberger) and his “knavish cur” Crab who supplied lots of laughs and delightful dog-human interaction on stage.
Some scholars believe Two Gentlemen of Verona is the first of Shakespeare’s plays, and it has the smallest cast of any of his works. In it, there are echoes of ideas that are explored in greater depth in later plays, such as The Taming of the Shrew. Friendship and fidelity are key themes in the play.
The Indiana Repertory Theatre is known for putting on fine plays with solid casts; this production of Two Gentlemen of Verona is the best Shakespeare production they have put on in a couple of years. Pasternak and Bresky were exceptional performers, and Stark and Wickett provided sparkling moments of their own. Director Tim Ocel does a bang-up job teasing the humor from the text. However, it must be said that as good as the human performers are, “Crab” — who has no lines but has impeccable timing — steals the show. Clever set design at the IRT and rich costuming add to the power of this production.
Performances continue through Oct. 19. On Sept. 26, the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) invites guests to join in celebrating William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday with delectable cupcakes and bubbly champagne immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance. Visit www.irtlive.com to reserve tickets.
