Suburbs of Our Discontent

OMG . . . I SO Know This Plot!

Boston. The Actors' Shakespeare Project's brilliant performance of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Me, thinking that the plot seemed familiar . . . Ah, yes! It's the high school scenario of some guy saying he really likes you and BOOM then he doesn't. Now he likes this other girl who might be prettier than you, but maybe she's not.  Whatever.

I love that Shakespeare turns fickleness into such a serious issue, throwing in heavy doses of betrayed friendships, which is always such a kick-in-the-gut theme. This early play is like the High School of Shakespeare's career: juvenile, but full of weighty matters that will hash themselves out again and again in middle age.