Shakespeare Untamed! For the first time ever at PSF: a play by
Shakespeare rehearsed by methods akin to those in Shakespeare's time.
Actors arrive with their lines learned, rehearse on their own, wear what
they can find, and open in a matter of days. No director, no designers.
Just great actors, a lyrical and romantic play, and pure adrenaline and
spontaneity. Two nobles - cousins who are best friends - fall in love
with the same beautiful woman, leading to unexpected twists of fate.
The Two Noble Kinsmen is a Jacobean tragicomedy, first published in 1634 and attributed to John Fletcher and William Shakespeare. Its plot derives from "The Knight's Tale" in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, which had already been dramatised at least twice before.
Formerly a point of controversy, the dual attribution is now generally accepted by the scholarly consensus.
A prologue informs the audience that the play is based on a story from Chaucer.
Three queens come to plead with Theseus and Hippolyta, rulers of Athens, to avenge the deaths of their husbands by the hand of the tyrant Creon of Thebes. Creon has killed the three kings and refuses to allow them proper burial. Theseus agrees to wage war on Creon.
In Thebes, Palamon and Arcite, cousins and close friends, are bound
by duty to fight for Creon, though they are appalled by his tyranny. In a
hard-fought battle Palamon and Arcite enact prodigies of courage, but
the Thebans are defeated by Theseus. Palamon and Arcite are imprisoned,
but philosophically resign themselves to their fate. Their stoicism is
instantly destroyed when from their prison window they see the Athenian
princess Emilia. Both fall in love with her, and their friendship turns
to bitter rivalry. Arcite is released after a relative intercedes on his
behalf. He is banished from Athens, but he disguises himself, wins a
local wrestling match, and is appointed as Emilia's bodyguard.
Meanwhile, the jailer's daughter has fallen in love with Palamon and
helps him escape. She follows him, but he ignores her: still obsessed
with Emilia. He lives in the forest half-starved, where he meets Arcite.
The two argue, but Arcite offers to bring Palamon food, drink and
armaments so that they can meet in an equal fight over Emilia.
The jailer's daughter, forsaken, has gone mad. She sings and babbles
in the forest. She meets a troupe of local countrymen who want to
perform a Morris dance
before the king and queen. Local schoolmaster Gerald invites the mad
daughter to join the performance. Theseus and Hippolyta appear, hunting.
Gerald hails them, and they agree to watch the yokels perform a bizarre
act for them, with the jailer's mad daughter dancing. The royal couple
reward them.
Arcite returns with the food and weapons. After a convivial dinner
with reminiscences, the two fight. Theseus and his entourage arrive on
the scene. He orders that Palamon and Arcite be arrested and executed.
Hippolyta and Emilia intervene, and so Theseus agrees to a public
tournament between the two for Emilia's hand. Each warrior will be
allowed three companions to assist them. The loser and his companion
knights will be executed.
The jailer finds his daughter with the help of friends. He tries to
restore her mental health. On the advice of a doctor, he encourages her
former suitor to pretend to be Palamon so that she will be gradually
accustomed to see him as her true love. His devotion slowly wins her
over.
Before the tournament, Arcite prays to Mars that he win the battle;
Palamon prays to Venus that he marry Emilia; Emilia prays to Diana that
she be wed to the one who loves her best. Each prayer is granted: Arcite
wins the combat, but is then thrown from his horse and dies, leaving
Palamon to wed Emilia.
Link to the review by The Morning Call here
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