`GENTLEMEN' SHOWS BARD'S WIT.Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News If you think Shakespeare dull or irrelevant to modern life, catch ``The Two Gentlemen Two Gentlemen is a 1997 EP by The Sea and Cake. Track listing
Shakespeare says it best: ``Were man but constant, he were perfect.'' And so goes this comedic tale of two best friends from Verona, Valentine and Proteus. One is constant, the other a devious betrayer. Proteus (the suave Paul Kouri) loves Julia (the likable, animated Toni Frisk A term used in Criminal Law to refer to the superficial running of the hands over the body of an individual by a law enforcement agent or official in order to determine whether such individual is holding an illegal object, such as a weapon or narcotics. ). Then he sees Valentine's beloved, the lovely Sylvia (warmly rendered by Sharon Dasho). A shallow friend, he will stop at nothing to win her hand. He betrays Valentine to Sylvia's controlling father, the Duke of Milan (played with authority by William Cockerel cockerel young male domestic fowl, older than 4 weeks, up to sexual maturity at about 5 months. ). The amiable Valentine (played with verve by the athletic Rob Cox) doesn't suspect his friend when he is banished by the Duke. He and his servant, Speed, the jaunty jaun·ty adj. jaun·ti·er, jaun·ti·est 1. Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk. 2. Crisp and dapper in appearance; natty. 3. Archaic a. Stylish. b. Genteel. Robert M. Grant, join a band of outrageous outlaws, comically rendered by Jim Diderrich, Charles A. Berg Jr. and Lee Altmar. The impatient Julia, whose romance with Proteus had been encouraged by her waiting woman, Lucetta, skillfully played by Sevrin Mason, wonders what has happened to her long-absent lover. Julia disguises herself as a man and journeys to Milan, witnessing first hand her lover's betrayal. This comedic, double-crossing romance is made even more hilarious by two characters who very nearly steal the show - Proteus's servant Launce (the indomitable in·dom·i·ta·ble adj. Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished; unconquerable. [Late Latin indomit , rubbery-faced Norman Victor) with his cowering cow·er intr.v. cow·ered, cow·er·ing, cow·ers To cringe in fear. [Middle English couren, of Scandinavian origin.] little dog (who is the real thing, by the way), and a suitor SUITOR. One who is a party to a suit or action in court. One who is a party to an action. In its ancient sense, suitor meant one Who was bound to attend the county court, also, one who formed part of the secta. (q.v.) for Sylvia's hand, the foppish fop·pish adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a fop; dandified. fop  pish·ly adv. , vain Thurio, an inspired performance by Aaron Roman Weiner. Too bad for the fairy-tale ending - Proteus did not deserve a forgiving Julia - but it's a comedy after all. And, as Shakespeare penned, ``All's well that ends well.'' THE FACTS WHAT: ``The Two Gentlemen of Verona,'' by William Shakespeare. WHEN AND WHERE: 6 p.m. Saturday at Grape Arbor Park, Lost Hills exit from Ventura Freeway, Calabasas. Also, 8 p.m. Sunday at Borchard Community Center, Newbury Park. COST: Grape Arbor Park performance is free. Admission to Borchard Community Center performance is $5. INFORMATION: (805) 579-8163. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) Sharon Dasho as Sylvia meets with Rob Cox asValentine in the play ``The Two Gentlemen of Verona.'' (2) Robert Grant, left, and Norman Victor play servants in the comedy. |
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