Theatre / bristol old vic theatre school
Review: The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Redgrave Theatre
This might be Shakespeare’s first-ever play – and it has all the ingredients of a trademark comedy.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s production has taken the Bard’s imperfect comedy and given it a fresh interpretation while retaining the original script. So when the central characters move to Milan, it’s to Milan, a prestigious university; Proteus’ pushy father is now Antonia her mother, and Julia’s keepsake is a Polaroid snap. All of this conspires to make director Bill Alexander’s latest offering a lively piece of theatre.
First up is the appropriately named Valentine (Chris Jenks), a youth who wins a place at Milan to improve his prospects. He falls in love with the no-nonsense Sylvia (Emily Williams) – cue love letters in the library and plenty of unrequited rhymes.
Soon Valentine’s friend Proteus (Bradley Banton) joins him at Milan, leaving behind his proud love Julia. He attempts to win Sylvia for himself. Of course, this wouldn’t be Shakespeare without some cross-dressing and, true to form, Julia – effortlessly played by Georgia Frost – disguises herself as a man in order to keep an eye on him.
The show is almost stolen by the minor characters – notably the servant Speed acted energetically by Alice Kerrigan; Laura Soper playing overbearing Antonia and one of the outlaws; and clownish Launce (Ellis Duffy) with Crab, ‘the sourest-natured dog that lives’.
The action takes place in an ingenious set that gleams like an IKEA showroom: we switch from university library to late-night bar with all the energy we’ve come to expect of the BOVTS students.
This is an entertaining version of a little-performed play that deserves an audience. Being one of Shakespeare’s earliest, the script also contains hints of lines to come in Romeo and Juliet and beyond, giving Shakespeare aficionados something to chortle over.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona continues at the Redgrave Theatre until Friday, March 3 (no performance Sunday). For more info and to book tickets, visit www.oldvic.ac.uk/whats-on/the-two-gentlemen-of-verona.html
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