Barbarian Productions’ Two Gentlemen of Verona had me rather embarrassingly bellowing with laughter. Set against the backdrop of 1940’s America, the accompanying band is charming with a live ‘New York, New York’ as the overture to Shakespeare’s first play.
Two Gentlemen is very much in the vein of his later plays, and I was struck by Valentine’s (Tim Gibson) resemblance to Hamlet. The humour of the show is led by Valentine’s servant, Speed (Barney Iley-Williamson), his natural charm and comic timing earning his place as shepherd of the comedy, despite phrases like ‘lost mutton’. Alongside, symmetrical double act Julia (Alice Fraser) and Lucetta (Florence Robson) present ‘woman’s reason’ beautifully. At once, they demonstrate unbending female logic – ‘I think him so because I think him so’ – and connect brilliantly, with a natural performance from Fraser.
Iley-Williamson and Gibson use both the Y and X axes of space, extending and contracting their shapes like contortionists, and bringing circus-like dynamism into their performances. Proteus (Ed Seabright) is a shapeshifter too, metamorphosing seamlessly from enfeebled lover, clutching helplessly at a grubby ring, to backstabbing Brutus. The duchess was cast to perfection – Ebney-Landy’s husky, sexy voice was precisely what the gender-subverted Duke required. Best cameo goes to Nick Lyons whose role as an outlaw is integral to the entire production. The play is a delicious cocktail of timeless slapstick, set in the verdant gardens of Christ Church.
The main themes – love and honour – are well presented in what promises to be a hugely enjoyable production. Proteus highlights the major issue at the heart of the play – ‘love making us neglect our studies.’ Whether for love of comedy or love of theatre, neglect your studies for an evening and don’t miss Two Gentlemen of Verona.
FIVE STARS
