After a showing of Imogen and the Enchanted Bears, the fun continues with The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Directors Rachael Klein and Haleigh Acosta enliven this old tale of love and betrayal with a blend of fantastical costuming and nineties sparkle. Best friends Proteus and Valentine are parting for a while, one staying home with his beau and the other continuing his singlehood abroad. But with a change of travel plans, their bonds soon begin to strain. In Milan, Sylvia and her lover get engaged behind her father’s back, only for her lover’s friend to rat him out and try to woo her instead. On top of this, the new suitor’s girlfriend is in town to surprise him, and is about to receive an unpleasant surprise herself. Acosta and Klein focus on the way characters use each other as interchangeable proxies to critique cultures of toxic masculinity and highlight female solidarity. 

The double-feature runs September 28 and 29, with the first showing from 6:00-6:30 pm and the second from 7:30-8:30 pm. Join us in Studio Beaumont of Mary Baldwin University’s New Place at 216 S Market Street. Parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance are available at the back entrance. We hope to see you there!

Both shows will also be touring schools this fall! To inquire about booking MLSE for your institution or event, please contact mbushakespearemfa@gmail.com.