We’re doing our first comedy! Welcome to our discussion of Act I of Shakespeare’s early and troubling comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Among many things, we discuss starting plays mid-conversation, the importance of establishing both the friendship and the status imbalance between Valentine and Proteus, parallels to the toxicity of incel culture, generational relationships, the precision of physical comedy in Julia’s letter speech, and the trope of the servant being five steps ahead of their employer.

Our ensemble for Two Gentlemen of Verona includes Samantha Blinn, Miles Blitch, Sam Gilroy as Valentine, Larry Gleason, Ellyn Heald, Jane Henzerling, Isabel Karp, Mitchel Kawash, Colin Kohrs, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.