THURSDAY,OCTOBER 10,2002
ARTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN =13
'Verona' presents fresh take on Shakespeare
Growing up can be tough. Throw in two girls, an angry father and a dog, and it becomes The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare.
The play, which the University Theatre opened Oct. 4, departs from tradition by being set in an Italy that strangely resembles late-1950s America.
Donovan Atkinson
datkinson@kansan.com
THEATRE REVIEW
Director John Gronbeck-Tedesco, associate professor of theater, said he selected the period to evoke a more innocent time.
In this time, we find Proteus (Andrew York) and Valentine (Christopher Wheatley), our protagonists, saying goodbye as Valentine leaves Verona to travel the world and improve himself.
Proteus, with Valentine gone, focuses now on his love for Julia (Christina Schaffer). However, he is to go to the Duke's court in Milan. The two exchange rings and promise to be true to each other.
Proteus forgets his promise to Julia upon meeting the Duke's daughter Sylvia (Mo Perry).
Proteus' arrival in Milan sparks the action of the play, as he tells the Duke that
Valentine plans to elope with Sylvia. Valentine is then banished from the city.
While Proteus tries to win Sylvia, Valentine becomes the king of a band of outlaws.
York and Wheatley are suited to their roles, displaying a brotherly affection for each other and a youthful spirit. Wheatley almost looks too old to play a part described by Gronbeck-Tedesco as the same age as high-school senior.
York gave a solid performance as Proteus, despite a stiff start. He demonstrated more characterization after the scene changed to Milan, showing more emotion and development.
Alex Wolfson provides much of the
comedy as Valentine's servant Speed. Wolfson does go over the top with his performance, but for the most part his antics work for the part.
Some of the most comedic scenes come from David Kobzantsev's Launce and his interaction with Crab the dog. Kobzantsev has a great rapport with Moppy, the dog playing Crab. Launce also pairs up with Speed to do a bit in the audience. This bit, which incorporated some modern humor, seemed disconnected from the rest of the show.
The change from 1590s Italy to 1950s "Italy" works, especially with the help of sets and costumes designed by Beth Collins. Collins' sets resemble comic-strip panels, using forced perspective to create stylized interiors and buildings. The costumes may not be genuinely true to the late 1950s, but they bring that time frame to mind.
Pop songs from the 1950s also helped create the mood during scene transitions. The opening song, "Come Back, Girl," sung by Wolfson and Travis Ashmore, ran longer than it should have, giving the show a slow start.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare will be performed Oct.10, 11 and 12 at the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall. Tickets are $12 and $14 for the public, $10 for students and $11 and $13 for senior citizens. The play is directed by John Gronbeck-Tedesco, with sets and costumes by Beth Collins and lighting design by Elinor Parker.know.
Other songs, such as "Where the Boys Are," performed by Amber Renee McIntosh, were effectively broken apart to serve as transitions into scenes.
A stand-out number was "Juvenile Delinquent," performed by Ashmore as the sewer set was raised and lowered from the orchestra pit.
By emphasizing the innocence of youth through a versatile cast, sets, costumes and the innovative use of song. the University Theatre's production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona provides a worthwhile evening of entertainment.