Two Gentleman Of Verona Essay, Research Paper
Two Gentleman of Verona
Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Mr. Wolfe, depicted an excellent plot
through strong acting and characterization. In addition it possessed humor that perfectly
affixed into the era of the sixties. The play was transformed from it’s original time era and
placed in the sixties. The main plot outline surrounds two gentleman from Verona who
were best friends. These two best friends named Valentine and Proteus were played by
Geoffrey Kidwell, and Noah Silverman. The story really begins when Valentine leaves
Verona. He is then banished from the next city he enters, Milan. During his time spent in
Milan Valentine falls in love with a young women, Sylvia, played by Katie Moran.
However he is torn away from her when he is banished. Then Proteus, his best friend,
betrays him. Proteus persues Sylvia, although he already has a fianc?e, Julia, played by
Stephanie Nealy. Proteus experiences true loneliness when he is rejected by Sylvia and
dumped by fianc?e. Julia rides off with Speed, a servant/messenger of Valentine, played by
Ronald Del Castillo. Thus the moral and theme of the story surrounds the idea of
friendship and betrayal.
Ronald Del Castillo, Speed, had very good vocal choices. He played a
messenger/servant who was always on the run. Speed used a bicycle or rolerblades, to
give the effect of constant movement. Thus, he rapidly talked like he acted, to
demonstrate his sense of chaos and lack of control. His physical and vocal choices showed
he was a messenger or servant and was always on the move needing to be somewhere. His
choices definitely were very effective. The next character had some opposite and alike
characteristics but also effectively fulfilled his character. Thomas Odell, who played
Launce, was Proteus’s servant. His character was somewhat quaint, but was very funny.
He had a lot of curved physical choices, like his walk. He always had a sense of
bewilderment on his face. He was always walking around, almost as if he was lost, and
tangled up with his leash from his dog. His vocal and physical choices completely fulfilled
his character in showing he was a bewildered and chaotic servant.
The first costume that was very effective was worn by Katie Moran, Sylvia. It was
almost as though she was a Marilyn Monroe look a like. Her costume consisted of a
blonde wig on and a brightly colored dress. The dress she wore was a red shiny dress. This
dress make her look sexy in order to draw attention to her. When she came on stage she
caught your eye. Her dress didn’t really have a time and setting effect but, it was very
important. It made her a very important character and a wanted character by everyone in
the play. This, is the reason that Valentine and Proteus fell in love with her. The Director’s
concept of this costume was to make this character very significant and it was efficiently
achieved by giving her a bright costume. The next costume was that of Thomas Odell,
who played Launce, a servant of Proteus. His costume was like Sylvia’s. It had bright
colors but they were peculiar. His costume consisted of purple, orange and yellow colors.
He wore unique shirts and a Hawaiian looking shirt. He also wore a straw hat and his nose
was covered with zinc. This costume was almost portraying him as a tourist. I don’t know
if that was the Mr. Wolfe was trying to get across or if he was showing us that this
character was a uncanny and unusual character that didn’t really know were he was going.
In addition to his costume he had a dog. The dog symbolized confusion and chaos by
creating more cluster because he kept on getting tangled in the leash while trying to carry
the briefcases. His costume made it seem like it was always daytime. Mr. Wolfe’s concept
definitely was qualified for the character and gave it a funny twist.
The first setting begins at the beach. That is where the play starts showing with
many people on the beach having a good time. the scene props consisted of towels, beach
chairs and a life guard station. The towels were green, yellow and purple along with
matching bathing suits. Everything was awkward, similar to the sixties. This setting took
up the whole stage. The beach was mostly used during the daytime and you could tell by
the sun would be up and everything would be bright. When the beach was used there were
many funny parts. Although, there were some serious talks on the beach and you could tell
because the lights would dim and it would seem as though it was night time. The next
setting is at the Palace Studios in Milan. The studio’s busy clustering took up the whole
stage. There were many colors along with actions occurring at all times. Although
were no real backdrop you could tell the setting was a studio by the people and their
actions. In addition there was a producer looking off stage directing a play. Everything
was extremely busy and you could tell it was the happening place to be. This setting was
definitely used during the day but then again it was inside so you could not exactly tell
what time of day it was. Mr. Wolfe’s concept of the studio was very life-like and you
could certainly tell it was a studio. It was exceptionally well planned out.
At two particular points in the play one being where the outlaws, played by John
Dzunda, Nick Fahey, and Jeremy Abbott and the other part in the play with Lorelei
Larson, Antoinette, and Justin Vasquez her chauffeur and lover. The first scene is very
colorful. There is a colorful background where the three outlaws pop out from the top of
the background setting and then later come to the ground to capture Valentine. The
background was very colorful and the three made a surprising entrance in the up right of
the stage. Thus, signifying there was going to be a conflict. Which there was. The scene is
very intense but then changes to laughter. The three outlaws weakly try to capture
Valentine with a gun but then ask him to be their leader. This scene was in the forest in the
middle of the day. Mr. Wolfe was showing us through this scene that these three guys
were a bunch of “jerks” and didn’t now what they were doing. They were poor robbers
and now that this smart man who was better than them came along, they wanted him for
their leader. The next scene is in Antoinette’s house. The house is very colorful. The room
has a lot of yellow in it and “blow up” furniture. This scene is played in down left and is
very intense. It is a hidden love scene. The two characters are off and on kissing while
people keep interrupting them during the mid day or early night scene.
The first important stage picture from the play was near the end when Valentine
and Sylvia are in the center of the stage, signifying complete control or calmness, where
they both confess thy love for each other. Valentine is standing 1/4 right and Sylvia is
facing 1/4 left, they both are looking at each other but at the audience too. The next stage
picture is when Julia is talking to Lucetta, her best friend, on the beach at night.
Everybody has left the beach and their the only ones left. They are discussing the matter of
whether or not Julia should love Proteus. By the end, she chooses to love him. In this
scene they are down right, which signifies happy, intimate and romantic.. Which in essence
is what they are talking about: love and romance. The two are sitting full front. In these
scenes the actors positioning is very important, just like it is in every scene. The
positioning tells more about the actor’s character by it tells us what mood and situation
he’s in. The actor’s stage composition equals the audience picturization. For instance,
usually, down right is romantic positioning, down center is confrontational, down left is
argumentative, up right is heavenly figure’s or angels, up center is royalty and up left is
where surprise entries occur. If the characters move: diagonal it’s usually action oriented,
straight it’s forceful or curved it’s relaxed. When you combine these and everything is
perfect you can usually get a stage picture. Then the stage picture should evoke a lot of
feeling and bring forth the theme of the play. It brings the theme up by the characters and
their positioning are signifying an underling reason. Not just the obvious but an actual
theme. The picture should make you think and want to learn more. Although by the
positioning you should be able to tell what is happening in that scene. When combined, the
director creates a totally different world on stage. The audience is watching and they are
not concerned with anything else. Everything in the play should be flowing perfectly and
the audience should be taken captive by the actors/actresses. That is when you know you
have a good play.
In conclusion, Mr. Wolfe’s production of The Two Gentleman of Verona, was
extremely well don. Not only did the costumes, setting, characters, acting, lighting and
direction, actively portray the play but they contributed into making it more lively and
interesting. The choices of these facts had a positive impact on the production. The show
possessed humor, direction, and creativity, three factors essential in putting on a great
performance. I personally enjoyed the modern rewrite of the play and favored the bright
colors of the costume, settings and character development. Overall I feel that this play had
an excellent performance and demonstrated an important moral in life!