Reviews

The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare

lys_anders's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

haazex's review against another edition

5.0

Charming! It is hard to imagine that this is the earliest Shakespeare play considering its complexity and characterization (at least in terms of surviving to the present). It is very fine indeed with a classic blend of love affairs, betrayal, loyalty, comedy and mistaken identities set in the Italian towns of Verona, Milan and Mantua. After reading the play I quickly proceeded with watching the excellent BBC production from their Shakespeare Project (1983). A delight from the beginning to the end! I definitely prefer plays being acted out on a stage (or equivalent) compared to the printed version. The play truly came alive!


Tessa Peake-Jones as Julia and Tyler Butterworth as Proteus

Shakespeare never disappoints in his play on words and ability to bring beauty to the English language. This particular play is filled with numerous moments of the introspection of broken hearts...

“To die, is to be banish'd from myself;
And Silvia is myself: banish'd from her,
Is self from self: a deadly banishment!
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?
What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by?
Unless it be to think that she is by,
And feed upon the shadow of perfection.
Except I be by Silvia in the night,
There is no music in the nightingale;
Unless I look on Silvia in the day,
There is no day for me to look upon;
She is my essence, and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Foster'd, illumin'd, cherish'd, kept alive.”

*deep sigh*

sarahdenn27's review against another edition

4.0

Julia and Silvia were awesome, Proteus, not so much.

daynosaur's review against another edition

3.0

Proteus doesn't deserve such good friends.
The love square was saucy.

ismenesgrief's review against another edition

3.5

mid play it was funny but the misogyny completely soured it. i think silvia and julia should be allowed to kill their fiancees and run away and be lesbian in love tee bee ach

zachwaddington123's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ebunk's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

stuff4bd's review

3.5

I enjoyed this play although my views of one of the main character were likely different than the author intended

theratcave's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I mostly did enjoy this okay, it was genuinely funny to see it all play out, as it’s all so dramatic and over-the-top story that it makes it a fun read. I am excited to see an actual play version of it now. Definitely could get some monologues out of it too, maybe from Proteus in Act 2 Sc 6 but mainly a few Valentine monologues as I related to him most, and liked his character. Shame the ending felt so abrupt and shoved into a few pages, but I guess it is early Shakespeare.

jvs2000's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0