The Two Gentlemen of Verona [Act 1]

Summary

1950 BBC live outside broadcast from the stage of the 1st act of the Bristol Old Vic production of Shakespeare’s early comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Theatre play

The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare [more information]

Play synopsis

Valentine sets off from Verona for Milan to see the world. Proteus, his best friend, stays at home because of his love for Julia. She is in love with him too, but neither knows of the other’s love until Lucetta, her maid, shows Julia a love letter from Proteus. He is reading her reply when his father, Antonio, informs him of his decision to send him to Milan. The lovers take their leave and swear eternal constancy.

In Milan, Proteus finds that Valentine has fallen in love with Silvia, the duke’s daughter, and plans to elope with her to foil her father’s plan to marry her to Turio. When Proteus see his friend’s beloved Silvia, he too falls completely in love with her and puts aside his feelings for Julia.Valentine confides his plans to elope to his friend but Proteus, now infatuated with Silvia too, betrays the plan to the duke and Valentine is banished from Milan.

In the wilderness he encounters a band of outlaws and is elected their leader. Meanwhile Julia, disguised as Sebastian, has come to Milan in search of her beloved Proteus. Overhearing him declare his passion for Silvia, she is devastated but, under cover of her disguise, enters his service as a page. When Proteus sends her with a message to Silvia, Julia is encouraged to find that his advances are rejected and that Silvia remains faithful to Valentine.

Silvia escapes into the forest to join Valentine and is captured by the outlaws but then rescued by Proteus who, seeing that she still spurns him, tries to force himself on her. Valentine intervenes and Proteus is forced to confront his act of betrayal. Julia reveals her identity and prompts Proteus to remember his feelings for her. Reconciliation begins. (adapted from http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/the-two-gentlemen-of-verona/synopsis.aspx; accessed 21 November 2014)

Production history

Written between 1589 and 1592.

Date of transmission

Wednesday 16 July 1952

Time

9.15-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Theatre company

Old Vic Company, London

Credits

Presented for Television by

Alan Chivers

Theatre Producer

Denis Carey

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Music

Julian Slade

Designer

Hutchinson Scott

Cast

Pamela Alan	Julia
Michael Aldridge	Launce
Newton Blick	Speed
Patricia Blyton	Lucetta
Eleanor Drew	Singer
Peter Howell	Antonio / Sir Eglamour
John Neville	Valentine
Laurence Payne	Proteus
Norman Tyrrell	Panthino / Host
Gudrun Ure	Silvia
Robert Wilson	Guitarist

Additional details

Origination

Live from theatre

Vision original

Monochrome

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 11 July 1952 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 40; article by Lionel Hale, p. 38

Title

Two Gentlemen of Verona, The (Website: database)

Author/creator

BUFVC

Reference

http://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/av37272