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A review by haazex
The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
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*
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*