"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is an early play by William Shakespeare, generally not ranked among his best. Yet this comedy becomes an entertaining work as presented by Annapolis Shakespeare Company at its Studio 111 black box theater.
The troupe's founding artistic director, Sally Boyett, serves as producer, director and choreographer, and adds her spin by time-traveling these "Two Gentlemen" to the 1920s in Italy.
Boyett has assembled a brilliant cast of company members and returning lead actors from past productions, while introducing a few debuting scene-stealers. In addition, Boyett choreographs a fabulous Charleston and other dances to enliven the production and chooses authentic Jazz Age background music, complete with Gershwin tunes.
The imaginative staging is fast paced, with actors passing props for the next scene to audience members in the first-row aisle seats. Set changes consist of speedily moving benches, tables, desks and chairs into the darkened space.
Music accompanies the show's opening, during which an art deco backdrop appears in a diagonal of LED lights changing colors. Lighting design is by Adam Mendelson, who is making his Annapolis Shakespeare Company debut. Serving as music arranger, Gregory Thomas Martin also contributes substantially to this show.
The plot tells of close friends Valentine and Proteus parting — Valentine leaves Verona for Milan, where he meets Silvia, who Proteus later meets and also fall in love with. The intrigue ensues as Proteus is engaged to Julia, who dresses in male attire to follow her fiance, ultimately assisting him in courting Silvia.
After many sent and torn love letters, all ends happily.
Action is enlivened by comical servants: Speed, adroitly played by Brian Keith MacDonald, and Launce, comically played by Matthew Alan Ward in his Annapolis Shakespeare debut.
Launce's companion Crab the Dog is played by Julie Ricketts, a springer spaniel, who becomes the show's brightest star. A peak comic scene arrives when Crab remains disdainfully imperturbable to Launce's frantic laments, evoking audience laughter that grows more uproarious throughout this scene. Here, dog seems in full control of master.
Human cast standouts among skilled professional actors include Joel Ottenheimer as Valentine, Patrick Truhler as Proteus, Amy Pastoor as Julia, Laura Rocklyn as Silvia, and Renata Plecha as Lucetta, host and a member of outlaw band.
Annapolis Shakespeare's "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" continues through June 28 at the company's black box theater in its Studio 111 complex, 111 Chinquapin Round Road in Annapolis. Tickets can be purchased online at AnnapolisShakespeare.org or at the box office by calling 410-415-3513.