American Players Theatre: The Two Gentlemen of Verona
The cast of The Two Gentlemen of Verona
American Players Theatre Presents THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Review - Ever Hear Southern Shakespeare?
TLDR: Taking Shakespeare down South, our cast delivers the original text of The Two Gentlemen of Verona with a Southern drawl adding a new atmosphere to the production. The cast delivers on the comedy and all the trimmings of what it feels like to be young and in love.
Tim Gittings, Casey Hoekstra, Brian Mani, Ama J. Kuwonu, and Colin Covert
Well, Howdy Y’all
Underneath the setting sun and bathed in warm light, a string of lights hang from a wooden porch that houses the band tuning up their strings. They start to play informally, listening and improving with each other in a little jam session. A man wearing a bowler hat plays checkers with a dog. Others mill about, enjoying the mild summer night, occasionally laughing or sitting contentedly in the rocking chair looking in on the game. A large, wooden billboard stands high above the stage with a giant Cupid aiming his arrow straight out over everyone’s heads.
The fiddle player steps down off the porch with a strum of their bow across the strings and everyone stands to attention. Our host of this fine fete, Nate Burger, welcomes us and the cast sings us a song about love and everything that comes with it, opening The Two Gentlemen of Verona.The twist to this production is that we’re taking Shakespeare down to the South. Still in the original text, the production has changed the accents from traditional English to a Southern drawl. This simple change of the setting creates a new atmosphere to the work.
We’ve Got The Ups…
The band stays on stage and not only adds a backing soundtrack to the work, but also become characters themselves. When it becomes clear our fiddle player (Elleon Dobias) will give a nice “ba-dum-tss” sting after a good one liner, our characters then take it upon themselves to hit joke after joke trying to get that successful ding.
They act silly like they’re in on all the jokes of the play themselves. Brian Mani and Casey Hoekstra as the Duke and Thurio, look stumped until Proteus (Jonathan Gardner) delivers his own well set-up solution to their problem. James Ridge and David Daniel as the two servants have been around the block once or twice and even though their charges are higher station than them, they still know how to keep them humble with a little gambling.
And what cast wouldn’t love to have the shapeshifting Elizabeth Ledo as Crab the dog, expressive and charming as Ridge’s faithful companion. Though she doesn’t say much, she jumps for joy all over Daniel until he pays her attention or growls at those she doesn’t like.
James Ridge and Elizabeth Ledo
…and the Downs
The two best of friends Valentine and Proteus, played by Colin Covert and Jonathan Gardner, joke and tussle with each other with boyish energy, even though it's the day of Valentine’s departure. And of course our two gentlemen of Verona have their accompanying ladies, because what would a Shakespearean romantic comedy be without them.
Starting with a fiery passion for each other, Proteus and Julia can’t bear to be apart - sending love letters to each other and exchanging tokens. Though when their true love is threatened by separation, Cramer disguises herself as a man to make her way from Verona to Milan (pronounced Mil-in in this case)
Soon it seems we’re veering into Love Island territory because queue up “another bombshell has entered the villa” because Ama J. Kuwonu as our second leading lady, Sylvia, has caught the eyes of Valentine, Proteus, Thurio, and not to mention Eglamour (played by Tim Gittings who disappears just as quickly as he appears). The love lives of all our islanders are soon entangled in one messy ball of emotions.
And while all this is happening, the adults look knowingly at their young charges, knowing exactly what they are going through - the angst, the joy, every up and down of young love.
The cast of The Two Gentlemen of Verona
The After Party Thoughts
I feel like someone saw the trend on the internet that said Shakespearean text works if you speak it with a Southern accent and wanted to test it out here. And for me, the concept is a winning one. Throw in a bango, a fiddle, and an upright bass and we have ourselves a party. It hits all the marks it wanted to, and the cast genuinely looks like they are having a joyful time on stage.
For those that are looking for a new interpretation of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, this production would be a good fit for you!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Elleon Dobias, Tracy Michelle Arnold, Maggie Cramer, and Nate Burger
When
Now through October 3. 2026
Where
American Players Theatre
5950 Golf Course Rd.
Spring Green, WI 53588
Runtime: 2hrs 25min, including intermission
Tickets
$78+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 608-588-2361 or through the American Players Theatre website
Photos
Dan Norman
Find Allie and The After Party feature on Theatre in Chicago
CAST
Nate Burger (The Host)
Jonathan Gardner (Proteus)
Colin Covert (Valentine)
Maggie Cramer (Julia)
Ama J. Kuwonu (Silvia)
David Daniel (Speed / The Outlaws)
Tracy Michelle Arnold (Lucetta / The Outlaws)
James Ridge (Launce / The Outlaws)
Elizabeth Ledo (Crab / The Outlaws)
La Shawn Banks (Antonio / The Outlaws)
Brian Mani (The Duke)
Casey Hoekstra (Thurio)
Tim Gittings (Eglamour)
Elleon Dobias (Twangling Jack / The Outlaws)
The cast of The Two Gentlemen of Verona
CREATIVE
Aaron Posner (Director / Additional Lyrics)
Greg Kotis (Composer & Co-Lyricist)
Sara Becker (Voice & Text Coach)
Jeannette Christensen (Costume Designer)
Nathan Stuber (Scenic Designer)
Jason Fassl (Lighting Designer)
Becca Broh (Choreographer)
Josh Schmidt (Sound Designer & Music Arranger)
Jeb Burris (Intimacy, Movement & Fight Director)
Scott A. Rött (Associate Costume Designer)
Tiffany Adams (Assistant Costume Designer)
Camela Widad (Music Director)
Susan Derry (Music Charts Creator)
Christopher Lindquist (Stage Management Assistant)
Emily Pfaff (Stage Management Assistant)
Ryan Barrett (Stage Manager)
Kenji Shoemaker (Stage Manager)