For the third installment of our 2006 summer series, we presented what may be possibly Shakespeare's first play as a swashbuckling comic romp. Here all the Shakespeare standards are on full view, love quadrangles, unreqited love, a cross dressing female, written messages gone ary, a romp in a forrest, all knowing clowns, a balcony scene and a bit with a dog.
In the show's opening scene the two gentlemen, Valentine and his friend Proteus, (Steven Bari) exchange quips and blades as Valentine is about to depart for the court of Milan. Valentine teasess the Proteus because of his love to Julia but soon Valentine will fall in love with the fair Silvia, unfortunately so will Proteus. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
At the court of Milan, the fool Launce (Scott Sortman) recounts the many trials and tribulations and urinary practices that he has to endure at the hands, er paws of his partner Crab the dog. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
In seeking to keep the fair Siliva away from Valentine and stop their elopment plans, Proteus (Steven Bari, center) conspires with her father the Duke (Bill Allgood, right) and the trigger happy Thurio (Michael Hagins), who is also interested in Silvia, to slander Valentine's reputation. Shipyard Park, Hoboken, NJ
A disguised Julia (Sarah Amandes) travels to Milan to keep an eye on her Proteus only to find him seeking to cheat on her. Here Proteus asks "his Page" to deliver a ring to Silvia as a token of his love. Only the ring was given to Proteus by Julia as a token of their love. Sinatra Park, Hoboekn, NJ.
All is set right with the lovers in the forrest outside Milan as most of the main characters are captured by the free wheeling outlaws (Scott Sortman, Jennifer Moses, and Rebecca Overholt). Sinatra Park, Hoboken NJ.
Julia (Sarah Amandes), infactuated with Proteus receives a love letter from him but tears it up showing publically that she has no interest. However in private she quickly, lovingly and longingly pieces the letter back together. Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ
The Duke of Milan (Bill Allgood) with his daughter Silvia (Abigail Diers) receive Valentine to their court. Valentine immediately becomes hed over heels in love with Silvia. The two shortly start a secret courtship and plan to run off together.
Proteus (Steven Bari) is prompted to join his friend Valentine at court of Milan. What should be a joyful reunion takes an interesting turn when Proteus meets Siliva. He immediately falls for her and forgets about Julia. Shipyard Park, Hoboken, NJ
Thanks to his "friend" Proteus, Valentine is discovered by the Duke with a rope ladder under his cloak that he was going to use to elope with Siliva. Above, as a result Valentine is banished from the court and goes to the forrest on the outskirts of the city. Shipyard Park,Hoboken, NJ
Hudson Shakespeare
Company
Synopsis:
In Verona, Proteus and Valentine (the two gentleman of Verona) discuss the qualitites of love. Valentine announces he is leaving for Milan. Separately, Valentine's servant Speed reports to Proteus that his love Julia gave no response to his letter to her. At Julia's house, her servant Lucetta givers her Proteus' letter, which Lucetta had hid from Julia. Although Julia tears it up and refuses to read it, she eventually pieces it together and shows her desire for Proteus. At Antonio's house (Proteus' father) Antonio and his servant Panthino discuss that it is time to gt Proteus out of the house; they decide he should go to the court of the Duke of Milan (where Valentine is). Antonio informs Proteus he is to leave the next day, surprising and depressing him.
In Milan, we learn Valentine and Silvia are in love, while Speed continues to jest and chide his master over the matter. Back in Verona, Proteus and Julia exchange rings and have a tearful goodbye. Proteus' servant Launce also prepares to leave, as he and his dog are to accompany Proteus. In Milan again, Thurio and Valentine trade witticisms as both woo Silvia, though she obviously loves Valentine, while her father, the Duke of Milan prefers Thurio. The Duke then announces that Proteus has arrived from Verona. All meet him, and Proteus immediately "falls in love" with Silvia, instantly forgetting his promised love to Julia. Valentine tells Proteus he is in love with her, but Proteus hides his feelings for her, actually questioning the appropriateness of his new emotions in private. In a street, Speed meets Launce and his dog and they trade witticisms. Alone, Proteus agonizes over his new love. He decides to forget Julia and to pursue Silvia. In order to get rid of Valentine, he plans to inform the Duke of Valentine and Silvia's plans to elope that night, hoping to get Valentine banished and create a less obstructed path to Silvia. Back in Verona, Julia tells Lucetta of her plans to travel to Milan, disguised as a male page. They immediately start packing.
Back in Milan, Proteus informs the Duke of Valentine's plans. Separately, the Duke encounters Valentine on his way to Silvia's room. He coyly reveals Valentine's plot by pretending himself to be in love with an unattainable woman. Upon discovering a letter of intent and a rope ladder on Valentine, the Duke banishes him from Milan. Proteus and Launce come across him. Proteus wishes him well and promises that he can write letters for Silvia and address them to Proteus, and he'll deliver them. They leave and Launce reveals he's starting to think Proteus is using Valentine to get to Silvia. Speed meets Launce and they again joke around as Speed reads a love letter describing Launce's new love for a milkmaid. At the Duke's palace, he and Thurio explain to Proteus how depressed and sullen Silvia is. Proteus states that he will try to cheer her up by slandering Valentine and praising Thurio, to which the Duke agrees..
In the forest between Milan and Verona, several outlaws ambush Valentine and Speed on their way back to Verona. Upon hearing Valentine is banished from Milan (he says for killing a man), they ask him to join them in crime and become their commander, or die. Of course, he joins. Back in Milan, Proteus reveals that his wooing of Silvia is going poorly, since she constantly scolds him for foreswearing both Valentine and Julia. This causes Proteus to love Silvia even more. Thurio appears with musicians to play beneath Silvia's window. In hiding, Julia appears disguised as a boy and sees her love Proteus singing love verses to Silvia, causing her to become extremely depressed. Her host tells her he has heard from Launce that Proteus is deeply in love with Silvia. Julia then overhears Proteus yet again give praises of love to Silvia, but she again curses him for being false to Julia and Valentine. Proteus tells her they are dead, but she will not be moved. In defeat, he asks for a picture of her that he may be with her through it. Reluctantly, she promises to give it to him. Julia heads to bed in tears. At Silvia's room, she meets sir Eglamour and asks him to accompany her through the forest on a journey to Verona to seek out Valentine; he agrees and they will meet at Friar Patrick's cell the next evening. Separately, Launce relays that he tried to give Silvia the dog Proteus sent to her, but the hangman's boys stole the dog, so he presented his own log (Crab) to her. She, of course, refused it and sent Launce away. Proteus learns of this and, in anger, sends Launce to try again. Proteus then speaks with Julia, disguised as a servant named Sebastian. He gives her his ring (given to him by her) to give to Silvia. He leaves and Julia approaches Silvia. Julia gives her a letter from Proteus and the ring, but Silvia will not accept either, explaining she will not hurt Julia anymore than Proteus already has betrayed her. Julia (as Sebastian) begins to weep and tells Silvia it is for Julia's loss. Silvia gives Julia her picture for Proteus, and some money to be given to Julia. Alone, Julia vows to stay loyal to Proteus, since she still loves him, and she will try to sway his love back toward her.
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