 TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Music by Galt MacDermot:: Lyrics by John Guare: Book by John Guare
and Mel Shapiro based on the play by William Shakespeare
St James Theatre, Broadway - 1 December 1971 (627 perfs)
Phoenix Theatre, London - 26 April, 1973
The Story
ACT I
We hear the sounds of nature, as Visi D'Amore - the Spirit of Love
- runs on and sings Jack Benny's old theme song, "Love in Bloom". He
runs off. The Ensemble wanders on and sings the prologue, a joyful
ode to springtime and to love. During the song, an oversized Cupid
moves among them, bow-and-arrowing everyone, while Lucetta appears
on the top-most level and pours a bucketful of red tissue-paper hearts
down on them and the audience.
The story begins in the provincial town of Verona. Valentine, a young
gentleman, is preparing to depart "to see the wonders of Milan." He tries
to convince his best friend, Proteus, to join him. Valentine asks Proteus,
"what do you want to do with the rest of your life?" Proteus replies:
that's a very interesting question. However, Proteus cannot bring himself
to leave Julia, whom he loves from afar. Valentine leaves for Milan,
accompanied by his servant, Speed.
Proteus writes Julia a love letter but when Julia actually appears, he
is too terrified to speak to her - much to her dismay. Gathering the Ensemble
for support, he re-enters to present her with a Symphony. During the song,
his love letter is handed down through each Ensemble member until it gets
to Julia, who abruptly tears it up. Julia explains to the audience: I
Am Not Interested In Love.
Suddenly Visi D'Amore reappears in giggly pursuit of a Soprano. Singing
they happily throw magic love confetti at each other and on Julia,
before running off again. Now "metamorphosed," Julia frantically tries
to put the pieces of the torn letter back together. She writes Proteus
a letter. She and Proteus meet and declare their love.
Proteus' father, Antonio, ignorant of his son's new love, orders him
to join Valentine in Milan to further his education. A heartbroken Proteus
tells Julia he must depart but before leaving, Proteus gives her a giant
string of pearls, and she gives him her virginity. Proteus' servant, Launce
observes and comments.
Launce has his own problems: he has been ordered to accompany his master
Proteus away from both his beloved Verona and his beloved dog, Crab, who
is to be left as another gift to Julia. Crab seems oddly indifferent.
Proteus and Launce set off on theirjourney.
Back in Verona - some time later - Julia has discovered she is pregnant.
With the help of the Female Ensemble, she and Lucetta concoct a plan to
travel to Milan in search of Proteus - they will disguise themselves as
Two Gwentlemen of Verona.
Enroute to Milan, Valentine and Speed, Proteus and Launce, and Julia
and Lucetto all become lost. Valentine and Speed arrive in Milan, and
it is indeed the most exciting place imaginable. In the midst of the
crowd appears the Duke who introduces his daughter Silvia and the foppish
Thurio, whom the Duke intends for Silvia to marry. The Duke makes a
campaign speech, promising that if re-elected he will end the war and "Bring all the Boys
Back Home".
Valentine has opened a letter-writing shop in Milan, but confesses
to Speed that he is having difficulty concentrating on his work, for
he has fallen in love with Silvia. Silvia arrives at Valentine's shop
to send a letter:. After convincing Valentine to rescue her from Thurio,
Silvia declares, "I came in here to write to my lover Eglamour. Instead I found
a truer love." She and Valentine make plans to elope that night, and
she leaves.
Proteus and Launce enter and are joyously reunited with Valentine
and Speed. Valentine confides in them his love for Silvia. Valentine
gets on his bicycle (which has appropriate Renaissance/Baroque decorations)
and exits in search of a "night ladder" for the elopement. Launce and
Speed go off in search of ale.
Left alone, Proteus confesses to the audience that he is filled with
jealousy towards his friend Valentine, for he too has fallen in love with
Silvia. It is only with great sarcasm that he pretends to be happy for
Valentine. He makes a plan: he will forswear both his love for Julia and
his friendship with Valentine. By revealing the elopement plans to the
Duke, he will surely cause Valentine's banishment, gain favor with the
court, and become the front runner for Silvia's hand. He runs off to carry
out his scheme.
ACT II
Using a "Renaissance" telephone, Proteus calls the Duke and anonymously
warns him of Valentine and Silvia's plans. Julia and Lucetta, disguised
as boys, enter in time to overhear Proteus proclaim his love to the many
pictures of Silvia he has now draped around the stage. Before they can
leave, Proteus sees them. He asks about their origins, and Lucetta wryly
explainsthat they come from the land of betrayal. Proteus does not recognise
the two "men," and takes them into his employ.
Valentine enters on his bicycle, and is stopped by the Duke and Thurio,
who reveal that Valentine is concealing a rope ladder under his cape.
The Duke promptly has Valentine drafted into the army, and Proteus himself
leads Valentine out of the city. A distraught Silvia complains bitterly
to her father, who orders her back to her tower. Thurio is worried that
Silvia will not accept him instead of the more manly Valentine, but the
Duke reassures Thurio that she had nothing but praise for him.
Meanwhile, in the local tavern, Launce and Speed are "glowingly" drunk,
but not so lucky in love as their employers. Each wishes that he too could
become a "Hot Lover. Proteus gives "Sebastian" (Julia) the same ring
that she had given him back in Verona, with instructions to present
it to Silvia. Left alone, Julia muses upon some improbable yet pleasant
methods for regaining Proteus' heart.
Proteus returns, having gathered the Ensemble to assist him in serenading
Silvia. During his song Proteus tries in vain to get the ring away from
Julia, but then does succeed in bringing on a tearful Launce to give away
- again! - his dog, Crab. As the Ensemble converges on Silvia and smothers
her with gifts, she suddenly breaks free, protesting that she is no idol.
During the final verse, a dove flies to her (on a wire) from over the
audience; she ties a note to it and sends it flying back again.
Silvia's long-lost love, Eglamour appears in the rear balcony of the
audience, dressed in an army uniform and carrying Silvia's dove on his
shoulder. He is Chinese. As he and Silvia sing he literally climbs down
to her on the stage.
Eglamour and Silvia escape to the forest, and the Duke raises the alarm.
Proteus leads the charge as the Ensemble heads to the forest to hunt down
the escaped lovers.
Deep within the forest, amidst trees and a full moon, Eglamour and Silvia
reach his encampment and go into his tent. Meanwhile, in another part
of the forest is Valentine, standing guard in his army uniform, and thinking
about his lost love. Proteus finds the tent and reacts to what he has
sees inside.
Proteus jumps into the tent, forcing Silvia and Eglamour to come rushing
out. After chasing Eglamour away, Proteus is overcome with lust for
Silvia. He throws himself on top of her. At first she protests, but
then starts to giggle. At that moment Valentine finds them. Silvia
is embarrassed; Proteus is contrite, as Valentine tells him, "Proteus, I must never trust
thee more." But before they can sort things out, Eglamour returns with
reinforcements in the form of a Chinese dragon - the type that one
might see in a parade. Proteus and Valentine defend themselves with
swords; eventually the dragon turns on Eglamour and chases him off.
Julia, Lucetta, Launce and Speed arrive as Valentine and Proteus forgive
each other in the aftermath of the battle. In a magnanimous gesture to
restore their friendship, Valentine relinquishes to Proteus his claim
to Silvia. Hearing this, Julia swoons, and Proteus at last recognizes
her. Lucetta, Speed and Launce advise her not to have the baby but Julia,
ever faithful to Proteus, decides to take him back, albeit on her terms.
And he agrees.
Valentine confronts Thurio who, being a complete coward, gives up all
claims to Silvia and runs away. The Duke, seeing Thurio's actions, decides
that Valentine is a much better suitor offer all, and presents Silvia
to him.
Thurio sees Lucetta, and it's love at first sight. He douses her with
confetti and they run off together. Launce, too, has finally found love.
Back in Milan, the Duke wishes everyone well. The Finale of the show is
a literal free-for-all, with cast members playing basketball, throwing
frisbees into the audience, blowing bubbles, juggling, twirling batons,
and even swinging from the rafters, while red paper heart confetti falls
from everywhere: an enormous and joyful celebration of life and love.
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