Tom Marion as Launce and Emily as Crab. (White River Theatre Festival, 1994)

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is an early play of Shakespeare, and some believe that it is his first comedy. Many point out that the plot devices in Two Gents are further developed in later plays. For example, Julia cross-dressing and helping to woo her boyfriend’s new love prefigures Viola predicament in Twelfth Night. Two Gents has a plucky heroin, reversals and betrayals, and one of Shakespeare’s most famous comic creations – Launce and his dog Crab. Those who are familiar with the play know that there is a threat of sexual assault in Act 5. This incident will be edited from this production, providing a more reasonable redemption for that character and the truly happy ending that Shakespeare no doubt intended.