3/5

It is not all that surprising that Shakespeare’s early play, possibly his first, has not been produced on Stratford’s main stage for 45 years.

This apprentice exercise in romantic comedy poses particular difficulties for any director. The first half of this tale of youthful love and betrayal is full of tortuous word play leaving most of the audience, as one woman commented in the interval, struggling but “getting the gist.”

Proteus (Mark Arends) and Valentine (Michael Marcus) a couple, of post-adolescent bosom pals find themselves at odds when the former readily ditches his affianced Julia (Pearl Chanda) when he sets eyes on the latter’s beloved Silvia (Sarah Macrae).  

The women, as always in Shakespeare’s comedies, are more mature and intelligent than their mates.

Broader comedy provided by the servants, Speed (Martin Bassindale) and Launce (Roger Morlidge) — with Crab (Mossup) his dog, undoubtedly the star of the show resignedly demonstrating that he has seen it all before and quite unlikely to have committed the social gaffes attributed to him — assisted by Michael Bruce’s jolly music performed by a live ensemble carry us through to the second half.

Director Simon Godwin and his creative team can relax and show their paces here as the action moves into the forest where Silvia escaping her father’s domination and Proteus’s unwelcome attentions finds herself captive of a band of seedy outlaws now led by the banished Valentine. 

When Proteus, accompanied by the ever faithful, long-suffering Julia now disguised as a youth, rescues her and rejected threatens rape, he fully deserves the waterboarding handed out by his erstwhile buddy. It all ends happily although the magnanimous Valentine’s generous offer to donate Silvia to his friend sits rather uncomfortably with modern audiences.

Shakespeare will use many of the elements of this slight play to orchestrate his later, greater comedies but Godwin’s updated production with his energetic cast provides an entertaining entrée. 

Playing in repertoire until September 4. Box 0ffice (01789) 403-492