Love. Friendship. Betrayal. Those are the themes of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, one of Shakespeare"s earliest comedies. Critics tend to portray the play as a workshop effort that laid the groundwork for his later, more mature plays like As You Like It and Twelfth Night. The play is definitely a forerunner to those more sophisticated works, yet The Two Gentlemen of Verona stands on its own merit.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona follows young Valentine and his best friend Proteus, as they take off on adventures beyond their home. The two come to conflict over the affections of beautiful Silvia, who happens to be betrothed to another guy. The two men jockey for position, forgetting their personal histories and prior loves. One of them commits a stunning betrayal, setting the stage for lessons about the nature of true friendship and true love.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona may at times seem farcical, but it certainly is in keeping with the preoccupations of the then-young Bard. It will resonate with young people as well as those who remember how difficult it is to come of age with one"s sanity intact. The Two Gentlemen of Verona echoes future Shakespearean developments, and one can find hints of characters to come, such as Twelfth Night"s Viola. It is easy to see how the play could work on stage. Surprisingly there is even a role for a patient dog (named Crab).

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a true comedy that is not meant to be taken seriously. The invocation of both courtly love and romantic love adds emotional significance to the play. This edition gives a good introduction with plenty of notes about the proper stage direction. Readers who want something light but not frivolous will really enjoy the early Shakespeare.

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