Love, Betrayal, Redemption…and a bit with a dog.
That’s how the multi-talented group at the Curtain Theatre , which has produced free theater for more than 20 years, sums up its latest production – William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona – set for Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day from August 13 through September 5 at the Old Mill Park Amphitheatre at 375 Throckmorton Ave., behind the library. All performances are at 2pm.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is considered by some to be Shakespeare’s first play, one that jostles with themes and motifs with which he would later deal in more detail. It is the first of his plays in which a heroine dresses as a boy. The play deals with the themes of friendship and infidelity, the conflict between friendship and love, and the foolish behavior of people in love. The highlight of the play is considered by some to be Launce, the clownish servant of Proteus, and his dog Crab.
Under the direction of Curtain veteran Steve Beecroft directs the play, with Michele Delattre serving as artistic director and Steve Coleman, as always, providing the magical set design. The cast includes: Nelson Brown (Proteus); Marc Berman (Eglamour, Outlaw, ensemble); Kim Bromley (Pantino, ensemble, dog wrangler); Heather Cherry (Speed); Gillian Eichenberger (Sylvia); Isabelle Grimm (Julia); Glenn Havlan (the Duke); Jamin Jollo (Thurio, Crab the dog in some performances); Nic Moore (Valentine); Michele Sanner (Lucetta, Outlaw, ensemble); Mark Shepard (Antonio, the Host); Abigail Wissink (Servant, ensemble); Grey Wolf (Launce); and Banjo and Ginger (Crab the dog).
The rest of the talented crew includes costumer Jody Branham; assistant costumer Lisa Claybaugh; music director Don Clark; dance and fight choreographer Steve Beecroft; band members Don Clark, Michele Delattre, Hal Hughes and Jo Lusk; properties Janelle Ponte; front of house Nic Meredith, stage manager Diane Pickell-Gore; assistant stage manager Lisa Immell; dramaturg Peter Bradbury and webmaster Gregory Wilker.
Curtain Theatre has open seating on chairs and benches in a shaded redwood grove behind the Mill Valley Public Library; a smattering of refreshments available for purchase.