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The Province
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Theatre: The women get their say and the dog has its day in Bard on the Beach's season-opening comedies
Jennifer Lines as Beatrice and Sheldon Elter as Benedick in Bard on the Beach's Much Ado About Nothing. Photo by Emily Cooper / Bard on the Beach Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Much Ado About Nothing This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Two Gentlemen of Verona When: To Sept. 20 Where: Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park Tickets, info: From $35 at Bard on the Beach opens its 36th season in its big tent with two of Shakespeare's romantic comedies playing in repertory. Each is engaging in its own way but stylistically they couldn't be more different. Director Johnna Wright gives Much Ado About Nothing a conventional Elizabethan-style setting while The Two Gentlemen of Verona gets the full 1980s Don Johnson-Jane Fonda-George Michael treatment from Dean Paul Gibson. Both amusing productions end with similar twists: Altered endings provide correctives to the plays' blatant misogyny. Much Ado is the superior play, featuring the famous battle of comic wits between wannabe but reluctant lovers Beatrice (Jennifer Lines) and Benedick (Sheldon Elter) plus a dramatic subplot involving young romantics Claudio (Angus Yam) and Hero (Jennifer Tong). Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Benedick vows to live a bachelor, and Beatrice will have no man with a beard or without one. But when Don Pedro (Matthew Ip Shaw) and friends plot to get them together, a few comic scenes later they're done. Meanwhile, Don Pedro's evil brother Don John (Karthik Kadam) plots to ruin Claudio and Hero's marriage, staging a scene that makes Hero look like a slut. Both Claudio and Don Pedro fall for it. When the villainy is revealed by goofy Constable Dogberry (Scott Bellis) and his posse, every boy gets to have his girl without further ado, despite Claudio's appalling behaviour towards innocent Hero. So director Wright has appended text by playwright Erin Shields: a long monologue by Beatrice at the beginning of the play about Hero and a long monologue by Hero at the end, scolding Claudio and pointing out the injustices she has suffered. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Thematically, I get it. Theatrically, it doesn't really work. What works best is the zest with which Lines and Elter parry and thrust in Beatrice and Benedick's love battles on Pam Johnson's gorgeous set through which we watch the sun slowly set. Bard on the Beach The Two Gentlemen of Verona Photo by Emily Cooper / Bard of the Beach The Two Gentlemen of Verona also features two sets of lovers but only a single plot. Valentine (Ip Shaw) mocks best pal Proteus (Jacob Leonard) for falling in love with Julia (Tess Degenstein). But Valentine falls in love with Silvia (Agnes Tong). Then Proteus also falls for Silvia, abandoning Julia, who follows him disguised as a boy. Sylvia's father (Elter) wants her to marry blockhead Turio (Tanner Zerr). This is pretty thin material so Gibson lays on the dumb fun '80s style. Characters enter, exit, and change scenes carrying boom boxes, dancing (choreography by Nicol Spinola) to sound designer Malcolm Dow's pounding disco beats and Gerald King's kaleidoscopic lighting in gorgeously horrid period clothing (especially the men's) from costumer Carmen Allatore. Shakespeare's dialogue is peppered with contemporary interjections: OK, shut up. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the end, all the complications get straightened out, but not before some really nasty behaviour by Proteus and Valentine, whose bromance is stronger than their respect for the women. Silvia, the character with integrity, has some strong speeches. But the coup de grace here is not rhetorical as in Much Ado. Forget the traditional marriage celebration. The production concludes with a gang of heavily armed women dancing violently to Pat Benatar. The comic coup in this production is the beautifully understated performance of Scott Bellis as the servant Launce, joined by his equally funny, very low-key dog Crab, played adorably by Bard artistic director Christopher Gaze's pooch Mason.
Vancouver Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Theatre: The women get their say and the dog has its day in Bard on the Beach's season-opening comedies
Much Ado About Nothing The Two Gentlemen of Verona When: To Sept. 20 Where: Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park Tickets, info: From $35 at Bard on the Beach opens its 36th season in its big tent with two of Shakespeare's romantic comedies playing in repertory. Each is engaging in its own way but stylistically they couldn't be more different. Director Johnna Wright gives Much Ado About Nothing a conventional Elizabethan-style setting while The Two Gentlemen of Verona gets the full 1980s Don Johnson-Jane Fonda-George Michael treatment from Dean Paul Gibson. Both amusing productions end with similar twists: Altered endings provide correctives to the plays' blatant misogyny. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Much Ado is the superior play, featuring the famous battle of comic wits between wannabe but reluctant lovers Beatrice (Jennifer Lines) and Benedick (Sheldon Elter) plus a dramatic subplot involving young romantics Claudio (Angus Yam) and Hero (Jennifer Tong). Benedick vows to live a bachelor, and Beatrice will have no man with a beard or without one. But when Don Pedro (Matthew Ip Shaw) and friends plot to get them together, a few comic scenes later they're done. Meanwhile, Don Pedro's evil brother Don John (Karthik Kadam) plots to ruin Claudio and Hero's marriage, staging a scene that makes Hero look like a slut. Both Claudio and Don Pedro fall for it. When the villainy is revealed by goofy Constable Dogberry (Scott Bellis) and his posse, every boy gets to have his girl without further ado, despite Claudio's appalling behaviour towards innocent Hero. So director Wright has appended text by playwright Erin Shields: a long monologue by Beatrice at the beginning of the play about Hero and a long monologue by Hero at the end, scolding Claudio and pointing out the injustices she has suffered. Thematically, I get it. Theatrically, it doesn't really work. What works best is the zest with which Lines and Elter parry and thrust in Beatrice and Benedick's love battles on Pam Johnson's gorgeous set through which we watch the sun slowly set. The Two Gentlemen of Verona also features two sets of lovers but only a single plot. Valentine (Ip Shaw) mocks best pal Proteus (Jacob Leonard) for falling in love with Julia (Tess Degenstein). But Valentine falls in love with Silvia (Agnes Tong). Then Proteus also falls for Silvia, abandoning Julia, who follows him disguised as a boy. Sylvia's father (Elter) wants her to marry blockhead Turio (Tanner Zerr). This is pretty thin material so Gibson lays on the dumb fun '80s style. Characters enter, exit, and change scenes carrying boom boxes, dancing (choreography by Nicol Spinola) to sound designer Malcolm Dow's pounding disco beats and Gerald King's kaleidoscopic lighting in gorgeously horrid period clothing (especially the men's) from costumer Carmen Allatore. Shakespeare's dialogue is peppered with contemporary interjections: OK, shut up. In the end, all the complications get straightened out, but not before some really nasty behaviour by Proteus and Valentine, whose bromance is stronger than their respect for the women. Silvia, the character with integrity, has some strong speeches. But the coup de grace here is not rhetorical as in Much Ado. Forget the traditional marriage celebration. The production concludes with a gang of heavily armed women dancing violently to Pat Benatar. The comic coup in this production is the beautifully understated performance of Scott Bellis as the servant Launce, joined by his equally funny, very low-key dog Crab, played adorably by Bard artistic director Christopher Gaze's pooch Mason.
The Province
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
2025 Bard on the Beach opens with Shakespeare's first play, and a set of rom coms
The Two Gentlemen of Verona has the smallest cast of any play by the Bard Bard on the Beach The Two Gentlemen of Verona Emily Cooper Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Bard on the Beach returns this summer with a pair of rom coms that couldn't be more different from one another. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors For its 2025 season, the not-for-profit professional Shakespeare festival presents Much Ado About Nothing and the Two Gentlemen of Verona on the BMO Mainstage in Vancouver. Much Ado About Nothing is a classic work believed to have been written sometime in the period of 1598-1599. This comic romp in the Sicilian city of Messina follows the couple Benedick and Beatrice through a labyrinth of mistaken identity, battles between the sexes and ribald wit. The play has been adapted into numerous film and TV versions, as well as into young adult fiction. It is a clear classic of the canon. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, believed to have been written sometime between 1589-1593, is considered to be Shakespeare's first play. Dealing with themes of friendship, infidelity and love's labours, the play has the smallest cast of any work by the playwright. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the production budget usually reflects that fact. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Two Gentlemen of Verona doesn't typically receive equal billing compared to other Shakespeare works. In fact, some refer to it as 'one of Shakespeare's weakest plays.' But the comedy has one of the most scene-stealing non-speaking role in all of Shakespeare's plays, performed by a dog called Crab. There will be a dog playing Crab in the local production, which alone might be worth checking out. What really makes this take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona sound appealing is its turn as this year's Bard on the Beach 'jukebox Shakespeare' jaunt. After past successes with The Beatles' music-infused As You Like It and Bollywood-themed All's Well That Ends Well, the company has a proven track record of turning any play into a song-and-dance delight. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bard on the Beach director Dean Paul Gibson Dean Paul Gibson For The Two Gentlemen of Verona, director Dean Paul Gibson has decided to place the play in the shoulder pads and pouffy-haired heyday of the 1980s. Shakespeare wrote the play in 'the pocket of his youth' in his 20s, and Gibson was at the same age in the '80s. 'Choosing to set it in the soundscape of my youth felt like a great hit with a lot of people of a certain generation feeling some nostalgia about it,' said Gibson, noting it's his fourth time with this play. 'The 1980s seem to be in the zeitgeist again, and a strong connection with the music — complete with Easter eggs throughout the production for the '80s kids and fans of the era — make it a lot of fun.' Gibson admits the Two Gentlemen of Verona explores the 'frankly dumb, sometimes transgressive choices' that one makes in their youth. While the playwright would revisit such things as characters hiding their identity and confusing plot twists with more depth and detail in later works, there is something fresh and vigorous in the play that the cast and crew are making their own. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I was watching Pretty in Pink when I started thinking about doing it, and right away realized that there is a direct line from John Hughes to Shakespeare in this comedy,' he said. 'It's a ripe play for the excess and indulgence of the era to be put up on stage at a time when getting the mullets working is just the kind of distraction we need. It's also a bit of a love letter to misspent youth.' Vancouver actor Agnes Tong is new to Bard on the Beach this year. She plays Silvia, beloved of Valentine, one of the two gents from Verona. With a lengthy Hollywood North TV and film resume, the Studio 58 graduate fondly recalls attending Bard on the Beach in the past. Bard on the Beach's Agnes Tong Agnes Tong 'It's an event with beautiful language floating over to the mountains you see through the open back of the stage,' said Tong of the famous seaside setting. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Noting she's still somewhat new to Shakespeare, having previously been directed in Julius Caesar at Studio 58 by current cast mate Scott Bellis, Tong says it has been a complete delight diving into the work. 'It looks hard, but the iambic pentameter rhythm of the writing mirrors a natural speaking rhythm that makes learning the language of the Bard easier,' she said. 'But, yes, there are still some words that are hard to get your mouth around and ensure the image and emotion in what you are saying resonates. We are having the best time with the big hair, bigger shoulder pads and drawing on my previous career as a dancer.' Bard on the Beach The Two Gentlemen of Verona (l-r) Agnes Tong and Jacob Leonard are directed by Dean Paul Gibson (cap) in the Two Gentlemen of Verona. Photo by bard / Taylor Kleine-Deters Tong plays opposite Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine. Jacob Leonard appears as Proteus, Valentine's best mate and the other gent of Verona, who is in love with Julia (Tess Gegenstein). The love story between this foursome follows them on an adventure that spans several royal courts, locations, and encounters. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. By end of show, the audience will be able to know the answer to the question posed by the Human League in its 1981 smash, Don't You Want Me? Along with two Shakespeare-adjacent works at the Douglass Campbell smaller stage, tickets and information for all Bard on the Beach dates can be found at Bard on the Beach The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] (Again). What's playing at Bard on the Beach in 2024? There are four plays at the 2025 Bard on the Beach festival. Two Shakespearean classics are presented in the BMO Mainstage. Two Shakespeare-adjacent works are presented at the Douglas Campbell Theatre smaller stage. Tickets/info: BMO Mainstage: Much Ado About Nothing: A romp that is 'as merry as the day is long.' Featuring sparring couple Beatrice and Benedick and star-crossed young lovers Claudio and Hero, this is one of Shakespeares most-loved comedies directed by Johnna Wright. With Sheldon Elter as Benedick, Jennifer Lines as Beatrice, Angus Yam as Claudio and Jennifer Tong as Hero. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Venture back to the weird and wacky era of the 1980s for a music-filled frenzy of rom-com mix-ups and eventual matches in what is considered Shakespeare's first play. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson. With Agnes Tong as Silvia, Tess Degenstein as Julia, Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine and Jacob Leonard as Proteus. Plus Mason the dog as Crab, the dog. Douglas Campbell Theatre: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again]: A sprint through all of the Shakespearean canonical plays in record time with no shortage of laugh out loud moments. A fan fave whether you love or loathe the Bard. Directed by Mark Chavez. With Tess Degenstein, Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay in many, many roles. The Dark Lady: Playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill's story of England's first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, asks if she was the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets and more. Directed by Moya O'Connell. With Arghavan Jenati as Emilai Bassano, Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare, Sebastian Kroon and Synthia Yusuf as understudies. sderdeyn@
Calgary Herald
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
2025 Bard on the Beach opens with Shakespeare's first play, and a set of rom coms
Article content Vancouver actor Agnes Tong is new to Bard on the Beach this year. She plays Silvia, beloved of Valentine, one of the two gents from Verona. With a lengthy Hollywood North TV and film resume, the Studio 58 graduate fondly recalls attending Bard on the Beach in the past. Article content Article content 'It's an event with beautiful language floating over to the mountains you see through the open back of the stage,' said Tong of the famous seaside setting. Article content Noting she's still somewhat new to Shakespeare, having previously been directed in Julius Caesar at Studio 58 by current cast mate Scott Bellis, Tong says it has been a complete delight diving into the work. Article content 'It looks hard, but the iambic pentameter rhythm of the writing mirrors a natural speaking rhythm that makes learning the language of the Bard easier,' she said. 'But, yes, there are still some words that are hard to get your mouth around and ensure the image and emotion in what you are saying resonates. We are having the best time with the big hair, bigger shoulder pads and drawing on my previous career as a dancer.' Article content Article content Article content Tong plays opposite Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine. Jacob Leonard appears as Proteus, Valentine's best mate and the other gent of Verona, who is in love with Julia (Tess Gegenstein). The love story between this foursome follows them on an adventure that spans several royal courts, locations, and encounters. Article content By end of show, the audience will be able to know the answer to the question posed by the Human League in its 1981 smash, Don't You Want Me? Article content Article content Much Ado About Nothing: A romp that is 'as merry as the day is long.' Featuring sparring couple Beatrice and Benedick and star-crossed young lovers Claudio and Hero, this is one of Shakespeares most-loved comedies directed by Johnna Wright. With Sheldon Elter as Benedick, Jennifer Lines as Beatrice, Angus Yam as Claudio and Jennifer Tong as Hero. Article content The Two Gentlemen of Verona: Venture back to the weird and wacky era of the 1980s for a music-filled frenzy of rom-com mix-ups and eventual matches in what is considered Shakespeare's first play. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson. With Agnes Tong as Silvia, Tess Degenstein as Julia, Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine and Jacob Leonard as Proteus. Plus Mason the dog as Crab, the dog. Article content Douglas Campbell Theatre: Article content The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again]: A sprint through all of the Shakespearean canonical plays in record time with no shortage of laugh out loud moments. A fan fave whether you love or loathe the Bard. Directed by Mark Chavez. With Tess Degenstein, Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay in many, many roles. Article content The Dark Lady: Playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill's story of England's first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, asks if she was the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets and more. Directed by Moya O'Connell. With Arghavan Jenati as Emilai Bassano, Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare, Sebastian Kroon and Synthia Yusuf as understudies.
Vancouver Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
2025 Bard on the Beach opens with Shakespeare's first play, and a set of rom coms
Bard on the Beach returns this summer with a pair of rom coms that couldn't be more different from one another. For its 2025 season, the not-for-profit professional Shakespeare festival presents Much Ado About Nothing and the Two Gentlemen of Verona on the BMO Mainstage in Vancouver. Much Ado About Nothing is a classic work believed to have been written sometime in the period of 1598-1599. This comic romp in the Sicilian city of Messina follows the couple Benedick and Beatrice through a labyrinth of mistaken identity, battles between the sexes and ribald wit. The play has been adapted into numerous film and TV versions, as well as into young adult fiction. It is a clear classic of the canon. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, believed to have been written sometime between 1589-1593, is considered to be Shakespeare's first play. Dealing with themes of friendship, infidelity and love's labours, the play has the smallest cast of any work by the playwright. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the production budget usually reflects that fact. The Two Gentlemen of Verona doesn't typically receive equal billing compared to other Shakespeare works. In fact, some refer to it as 'one of Shakespeare's weakest plays.' But the comedy has one of the most scene-stealing non-speaking role in all of Shakespeare's plays, performed by a dog called Crab. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. There will be a dog playing Crab in the local production, which alone might be worth checking out. What really makes this take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona sound appealing is its turn as this year's Bard on the Beach 'jukebox Shakespeare' jaunt. After past successes with The Beatles' music-infused As You Like It and Bollywood-themed All's Well That Ends Well, the company has a proven track record of turning any play into a song-and-dance delight. For The Two Gentlemen of Verona, director Dean Paul Gibson has decided to place the play in the shoulder pads and pouffy-haired heyday of the 1980s. Shakespeare wrote the play in 'the pocket of his youth' in his 20s, and Gibson was at the same age in the '80s. 'Choosing to set it in the soundscape of my youth felt like a great hit with a lot of people of a certain generation feeling some nostalgia about it,' said Gibson, noting it's his fourth time with this play. 'The 1980s seem to be in the zeitgeist again, and a strong connection with the music — complete with Easter eggs throughout the production for the '80s kids and fans of the era — make it a lot of fun.' Gibson admits the Two Gentlemen of Verona explores the 'frankly dumb, sometimes transgressive choices' that one makes in their youth. While the playwright would revisit such things as characters hiding their identity and confusing plot twists with more depth and detail in later works, there is something fresh and vigorous in the play that the cast and crew are making their own. 'I was watching Pretty in Pink when I started thinking about doing it, and right away realized that there is a direct line from John Hughes to Shakespeare in this comedy,' he said. 'It's a ripe play for the excess and indulgence of the era to be put up on stage at a time when getting the mullets working is just the kind of distraction we need. It's also a bit of a love letter to misspent youth.' Vancouver actor Agnes Tong is new to Bard on the Beach this year. She plays Silvia, beloved of Valentine, one of the two gents from Verona. With a lengthy Hollywood North TV and film resume, the Studio 58 graduate fondly recalls attending Bard on the Beach in the past. 'It's an event with beautiful language floating over to the mountains you see through the open back of the stage,' said Tong of the famous seaside setting. Noting she's still somewhat new to Shakespeare, having previously been directed in Julius Caesar at Studio 58 by current cast mate Scott Bellis, Tong says it has been a complete delight diving into the work. 'It looks hard, but the iambic pentameter rhythm of the writing mirrors a natural speaking rhythm that makes learning the language of the Bard easier,' she said. 'But, yes, there are still some words that are hard to get your mouth around and ensure the image and emotion in what you are saying resonates. We are having the best time with the big hair, bigger shoulder pads and drawing on my previous career as a dancer.' Tong plays opposite Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine. Jacob Leonard appears as Proteus, Valentine's best mate and the other gent of Verona, who is in love with Julia (Tess Gegenstein). The love story between this foursome follows them on an adventure that spans several royal courts, locations, and encounters. By end of show, the audience will be able to know the answer to the question posed by the Human League in its 1981 smash, Don't You Want Me? Along with two Shakespeare-adjacent works at the Douglass Campbell smaller stage, tickets and information for all Bard on the Beach dates can be found at . There are four plays at the 2025 Bard on the Beach festival. Two Shakespearean classics are presented in the BMO Mainstage. Two Shakespeare-adjacent works are presented at the Douglas Campbell Theatre smaller stage. Tickets/info: . BMO Mainstage : Much Ado About Nothing : A romp that is 'as merry as the day is long.' Featuring sparring couple Beatrice and Benedick and star-crossed young lovers Claudio and Hero, this is one of Shakespeares most-loved comedies directed by Johnna Wright. With Sheldon Elter as Benedick, Jennifer Lines as Beatrice, Angus Yam as Claudio and Jennifer Tong as Hero. The Two Gentlemen of Verona : Venture back to the weird and wacky era of the 1980s for a music-filled frenzy of rom-com mix-ups and eventual matches in what is considered Shakespeare's first play. Directed by Dean Paul Gibson. With Agnes Tong as Silvia, Tess Degenstein as Julia, Matthew Ip Shaw as Valentine and Jacob Leonard as Proteus. Plus Mason the dog as Crab, the dog. Douglas Campbell Theatre : The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again] : A sprint through all of the Shakespearean canonical plays in record time with no shortage of laugh out loud moments. A fan fave whether you love or loathe the Bard. Directed by Mark Chavez. With Tess Degenstein, Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay in many, many roles. The Dark Lady : Playwright and actor Jessica B. Hill's story of England's first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, asks if she was the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets and more. Directed by Moya O'Connell. With Arghavan Jenati as Emilai Bassano, Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare, Sebastian Kroon and Synthia Yusuf as understudies. sderdeyn@
