Shakespearean Summer: The Two Gentlemen of Verona

If you are looking to enjoy a relaxing holiday steeped in history and culture then look no further. Allens Caravans have a number of holiday caravans near Stratford-upon-Avon which is the ideal location for those in need of a fun but sophisticated holiday.

Our luxury caravans set in stunning rural surroundings make the perfect base whilst our close proximity to Stratford-upon-Avon, the heart of Shakespearean England, means there will always be plenty for you to do. From shopping to sightseeing, the town is a hive of activity and no visit to Shakespeare country would be complete without a trip to the theatre.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is an attraction in its own right and the superb companies and performances it plays host to are world-renowned. With this year’s Shakespearean comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona taking centre stage, the theatre is set to have a fantastic summer in 2014 and those of you interested in having a break nearby will be able to enjoy the experience first-hand.

To help you get your around the sometimes challenging world of Shakespearean comedy, here is a brief plot summary of this summer’s classic, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

(Royal Shakespeare Theatre July – Sep 2014)

The setting is Verona and the leads are two close friends, Valentine and Proteus. The friends part ways at the opening of the play; Valentine is going to travel but he is doing so alone because Proteus won’t leave his darling Julia.

Julia is not passionately in love with Proteus but rather casually interested. She enjoys the attention he gives her and she treasures the love letter he gave her, but that is the extent of her attachment.

Proteus is sent on a mission to Milan by his father. He arrives at the Duke of Milan’s Court and bumps into Valentine who has fallen in love with Duke’s daughter, Silvia. Silvia reciprocates Valentine’s love, but Proteus can’t help but fall in love with her at first sight, despite his vow of love and fidelity to Julia.

The Duke however is planning to marry his daughter to the foolish Thurio. Valentine plans to elope with Silvia before this can happen but Proteus is jealous and reveals his friend’s plot to the Duke. Valentine is caught en route to Silvia and banished by the Duke.

Proteus is left to woo Silvia with songs and declarations of his love. She isn’t interested and she makes no secret of her contempt, reminding him of Julia.

Julia, disguised as a pageboy named Sebastian, arrives in Milan. Proteus, thinking her a real pageboy, sends her/him to Silvia with a ring. This ring was given to Proteus by Julia. In return for the ring, Silvia promises Proteus a picture of herself, despite still being wholly devoted to Valentine.

Since his banishment, Valentine has been captured by outlaw aristocrats who make him their chief. Silvia and her Courtier Sir Eglamour go to Mantua to find Valentine, but Silvia too gets caught by the outlaws. The Duke, Thurio and Proteus go to rescue her and still in disguise, Julia tags along.

Proteus rescues Silvia and tries to force himself on her but Valentine stops him. The two fight but later reconcile. However, Julia overhears their fight and misinterprets it to mean Proteus can pursue Silvia. Upon this ‘news’ Julia faints, Proteus recognises her ring and discovers her identity. Once he sees her as Julia, he falls in love with her all over again.

The Duke and Thurio meanwhile have been captured by the outlaws. Thurio denies Silvia in an attempt to save his own neck which leads the Duke to give his blessing to Valentine and Silvia.

The play ends with the two couples enjoying a double wedding and the Duke pardoning the outlaws. A happy ending for all…except for Thurio.

Source: http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/

So there you have a quick and easy guide to William Shakespeare’s famous comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Now all you need to do is get in touch with the team here at Allens, book your luxury caravan holiday and get tickets to the show! So what are you waiting for?