Two Gentlemen of Verona

South Coast Repertory presents Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona. Mark Rucker directs. This production’s Verona is an idealized smalltown America where it appears that nothing will threaten the future happiness of Proteus and Valentine, the two young men at the center of the story. Proteus is in love with Julia, Valentine is in love with adventure, and they are both in love with life. But when Valentine’s travels lead him to Milan, a strange seductive life awaits in the form of Silvia, who not only bewitches the Veronese visitor, but soon his best friend, too, when Proteus shows up to rescue the lad. From there on, the audience is treated to some of the first appearances of what would become Shakespeare’s classic comic devices, including mistaken identities and cross-dressing disguise. And, a treat for SCR audiences will be the Founding Artists playing the outlaws who populate “exile,” as a leather-clad motorcycle gang.