Two Gentlemen of Verona Audio Pre-Show Notes
Welcome to the Gazebo Players' production of William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona. Join us in the doo-wop era where beatniks and bobby soxers groove to luscious musical harmonies as they navigate friendship and romance.
Our play is set in Italy, in the cities of Verona and Milan. We begin on a bare stage with only a red brick tower in the back. The tower features a small rectangular window at the top. Actors bring on and remove a high-backed emerald green chair to depict Julia’s chamber. In act one, all action takes place onstage, in either Verona or Milan. Additionally, in act two, actors utilize the grassy lawn in front to represent the forest.
Now let’s meet our cast in order of appearance:
Cameron Small (he/him) is a short white man with black hair and glasses. He has an auburn beard that has been (regrettably) shaved for the show. Cam plays Valentine, one of the two gents.
Kelly McGowan is a fair-skinned woman. She stands at 5 feet 6 inches, and has short brown hair and blue/green eyes. Kelly plays Proteus, the other gent.
Susan Diller (she/her) is 62 years old. She is a tall woman at 5 feet 9 inches and has curly brown shoulder length hair. Susan plays Speed, Valentine’s servant, as well as the Host.
Amy Klesert (she/her) is a dainty young woman with pale skin, long copper curls and green eyes. Amy plays Julia, Proteus’s love interest and, at times, is disguised as a man named Sebastian.
Juliana Small (she/her) is a petite woman in her early thirties with abundant dark brown hair and matching dark eyes. Juli plays Lucetta, Julia’s servant as well as Outlaw 3, and a musician.
Barbara Schapiro (she/her) is a small older woman with brown eyes and dyed brown hair. Barb plays Antonio, the father of Proteus, as well as Outlaw 1 and Crab.
Grace Walls (she/her) is a twenty-year old plus size white woman with sandy brown hair and a fair complexion. Grace plays Panthino, Don Antonio’s servant, Outlaw 2 and a musician.
Anna Sheehan (she/her) is a slender young white woman with wavy brown hair reaching her mid-back, and blue eyes. Anna plays Silvia.
Nicki Ramshaw (she/her) is a short woman in her 40s with dark hair and glasses. Nicki plays Launce, the servant to Proteus and Crab’s master.
Tim Caron (he/him) is a slight man in his early thirties with neatly trimmed, dark brown hair. Tim plays Thurio, the Duke’s choice for suitor to his daughter Silvia.
Cynthia Small (she/her) is a diminutive middle-aged white woman with short eggplant colored hair and fuchsia glasses. Cynthia plays Earl, Duke of Milan, Silvia’s father.
Each of the characters wears a costume to represent their status and social group, much like students in a high school cafeteria.
The wealthy Duke of Milan, Sir Thurio and Don Antonio turn out in tailored suit pieces and elegant shirts.
Nerdy best friends Valentine and Proteus dress in buttoned-up, short sleeve shirts, ties, cuffed pants and high-top canvas sneakers.
Julia and Silvia exhibit poodle skirts and bobby socks with white canvas sneakers. When disguised as Sebastien, Julia dons a newsboy cap with the brim pulled low, an open shirt over a T, jeans and a codpiece made of sweat socks.
Beatnik servants wear black and white striped shirts, black pants and colored berets.
Lucetta wears a black dress, with a white rounded Peter Pan collar and white apron.
Greaser outlaws sport jeans, and white t-shirts with cigarette packages rolled into their sleeves. They each carry a switchblade which ejects a small comb.
Crab the dog displays a brown snout, droopy black ears, a brown and white coat, and long furry tail. He carries a rope leash.
There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.
Enjoy the show!
Two Gentlemen of Verona Playbill
Gazebo Players of Medfield Present
Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
* July 20, 21, 27, & 28 at the Bellforge Arts Center, Medfield
*August 3 & 4 at Bird Park, Walpole
This production is supported in part by the Medfield and Walpole Cultural Councils, both local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization is happy to support
The Gazebo Players of Medfield
Congratulations on your 2024 production of TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
The Gazebo Players of Medfield are proud to present William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona
Directed by Steve Small
July 20, 21, 27 & 28, Bellforge Art Center, Medfield August 3 & 4, Bird Park, Walpole
There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Medfield Cultural Council and the Walpole Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
The consensus among Shakespeare scholars is that Two Gentlemen of Verona is the first play William Shakespeare wrote, completing it in 1591. It has suffered critically over the years for not being as brilliant as some of the plays that followed, but let’s see if Come Blow Your Horn (Neil Simon’s first play), for example, is still being produced 400+ years later. Shakespeare is often accused of stealing from other playwrights, but Two Gents has quite a few plot devices which Shakespeare will recycle in future plays. There’s the ring trick (also used in All’s Well That Ends Well), the heroine dressing as a man (Twelfth Night, As You Like It), and the servants who know more about the way the world really works than their masters (just about every Shakespearean comedy, as well as some of his tragedies).
In Shakespeare’s time, platonic love between two men was considered to be a higher form of love than the romantic love between a man and a woman. This was because there was no messy lust looming over the bromance. (Apparently the possibility of homosexuality wasn’t considered.) Two Gents explores the subject by adding the complication of the male BFFs falling in love with the same woman. It is one of the earliest surviving love triangle romantic comedies.
Why the Doo Wop era? Early in the play Julia describes Proteus as “divine perfection”. This struck me as the 1590’s version of “he’s so dreamy”, which immediately made me think of numerous 1950’s movies, and the rest just fell into place from that thought. I hope you enjoy our updated Two Gents populated by poodle skirts, nerds, beatniks, and greasers.
Steve Small
CAST
in Order of Appearance
Valentine - Cameron Small
Proteus - Kelly McGowan
Speed - Susan Diller
Julia - Amy Klesert
Lucetta - Juliana Small
Antonio - Barbara Schapiro
Panthino - Grace Walls
Silvia - Anna Sheehan
Launce - Nicki Ramshaw
Crab - Barbara Schapiro
Thurio - Tim Caron
Duke of Milan - Cynthia Small
First Outlaw - Barbara Schapiro
Second Outlaw - Grace Walls
Third Outlaw - Juliana Small
Host - Susan Diller
Musicians - Juliana Small, Grace Walls
Eglamour - Barbara Schapiro
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director - Steve Small
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Benjamin Medeiros
Sound Design - Cameron Small
Costumes - KC Coursey
Props - Juliana Small
Playbill - Juliana Small
Original Artwork - Denise Small
Original Music - Krishan Oberoi
Gazebo Players Board of Directors
Ashley Harmon, President
Barbara Schapiro, Secretary
Steve Small, Treasurer
Marielle Boudreau, Web and Social Media Director
Amy Klesert
Benjamin Medeiros
Cynthia Small
Juliana Small
SYNOPSIS
Valentine, a young gentleman, is preparing to travel to the Duke of Milan’s court. His friend Proteus (the second titular gentleman) has refused to join him because he does not want to leave his beloved Julia. Proteus has sent a letter to Julia via Valentine’s servant, Speed. Upon receiving the letter from her maid, Lucetta, Julia affects disdain and tears the letter up, but confesses in a monologue that she does indeed love Proteus. Meanwhile, Proteus’s father, Antonio, orders Proteus to join Valentine at the Duke’s court to further his education as a gentleman.
In Milan, Valentine has fallen in love with the Duke’s daughter, Silvia. She has asked him to write a love letter to an unknown man, but when he shows it to her, she rejects it as inadequate. Speed understands that Silvia is actually in love with Valentine and has asked him to write letters to himself on her behalf. Back in Verona, Proteus and Julia say farewell and exchange rings. Proteus’s servant Launce complains about his dog, Crab, being insufficiently distressed at his master’s having to leave to follow Proteus to Milan.
Proteus arrives at court and meets Silvia. Valentine confesses to Proteus that he and Silvia plan to elope. In a soliloquy, Proteus reveals that he has fallen in love with Silvia himself and is willing to betray both Julia and Valentine in pursuit of her. Julia meanwhile plans to travel to Milan disguised as a man named Sebastian in order to find Proteus.
Informed by Proteus of the planned elopement, the Duke discovers a letter and a rope ladder concealed under Valentine’s cloak, and he banishes Valentine from his realm. The Duke fears that Valentine has stolen Silvia’s affection away from his chosen suitor for her, Thurio. Proteus offers to meet with Silvia and slander Valentine while promoting Thurio’s suit. The Duke and Thurio agree, thinking Proteus to still be in love with Julia. Proteus suggests that Thurio serenade Silvia at her window.
Valentine is captured by Outlaws. Upon learning that Valentine is a gentleman, as some of them once were, they draft him as their leader. Thurio arrives, along with musicians, to serenade Silvia. Proteus confesses his love to Silvia, but she rebukes him for betraying Julia. He claims that Julia has died, unaware that she is in fact there in disguise. He also says he’s heard that Valentine has died, but Silvia doesn’t believe him. She sets out with Sir Eglamour on a journey to find Valentine. Proteus berates Launce for presenting Silvia with Crab as a gift and hires Sebastian/Julia to be his servant.
The Duke learns of Silvia’s flight and goes after her. Thurio, Proteus, and Julia follow in pursuit. Silvia is captured by the Outlaws, but Proteus rescues her and demands her love as a reward. She refuses and he attempts to force her. Valentine, who has secretly observed this scene, prevents him, berating his friend for his disloyalty. Proteus is stricken with remorse and begs forgiveness, which Valentine grants. The disguised Julia, who was charged with delivering Proteus’s ring to Silvia, mistakenly produces the ring Proteus had given her. An astonished Proteus asks how she came by that ring. Julia reveals herself, and Proteus feels love for her once more. The Outlaws arrive with Thurio and the Duke. Thurio claims Silvia as his, but when Valentine challenges him, he withdraws his claim. The Duke pardons Valentine, along with the Outlaws (whose case Valentine has pled) and awards him Silvia's hand in marriage.
Thank you for supporting the Gazebo Players!
WHO’s WHO in the CAST and CREW
Tim Caron (Thurio) is an immigration attorney from Andover, MA who has been performing in plays and musicals since high school. He has staged an original musical and an original play at two Fringe Festivals on the East Coast, and he made his film debut in 2021 in Emilio Guido Production’s When Max Met Loralie. Favorite past parts include the titular roles in The Count of Monte Cristo and Pippin. Tim has also been composing and releasing music since 2019, with hopes of completing his third solo album by the end of 2024.
Susan Diller (Speed/Host) is excited to be in her first production with the Gazebo Players and her premier in a Shakespeare play. She has performed at The Center for Arts in Natick, at Ashland Community Theater and at Cambridge Adult Ed theater program. She comes to acting through years of teaching children, through the MOTH storytelling and through the simple drama of life. Susan is grateful to her family and friends for all their love and support. She is particularly excited to be Speed in Two Gentleman and have the honor of saying the play’s most famous line!
Amy Klesert (Julia) is so excited to achieve her lifelong dream of playing a Shakespearean heroine who disguises herself as a man! She most recently appeared as Leanne in Puffs at Mass Arts Center. She has worked with Gazebo Players on many previous shows, both onstage (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Starveling/Mustardseed) and backstage.
Kelly McGowan (Proteus) is thrilled to be returning to the Gazebo Players stage for the second year in a row! She played Regan in last summer’s production of King Lear. Some of her other favorite roles are Yonkers/Pastey (Gypsy, Mass Art Center), Narrator (Puffs, Mass Art Center), and Hannah (Carousel, Educational Theater Collaborative). Kelly would like to thank her castmates for being so kind and hilarious and the production team for their endless support and guidance. Also, big shoutout to Kelly’s friends and family for being the best and watching her perform anything (even Shakespeare).
Nicki Ramshaw(Launce) is tickled pink to be playing Launce in her foray with the Gazebo Players. Favorite past roles include Puck from Midsummer Night's Dream (Needham Community Theatre), Siobhan, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Common Thread Theatre), and Our Town's Stage Manager (Needham Community Theatre). She thanks her husband, David, for his support, and her children's overnight camp for giving her seven weeks of summer bliss.
Barbara Schapiro (Antonio/Eglamour/Crab/First Outlaw) has been with the Gazebo Players since its inception and is a member of its board. Favorite roles include Gloucester in King Lear, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gertrude in Hamlet, Brutus in Julius Caesar, Prospera in The Tempest, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. She is also active with the Walpole Footlighters and the Mass Arts Center in Mansfield, where she was recently featured as Sheila in the British farce Relatively Speaking. A dog lover, she thanks Steve for allowing her to play her dream role, Crab!
Anna Sheehan (Silvia) is thrilled for her third summer with Gazebo Players! With Gazebo, Anna loved being ridiculous as the Wall in A Midsummer Night's Dream and losing a duel as Oswald in King Lear. In her junior year at Catholic University, she played Richard II in a twenty-minute cut of the Shakespeare play and Hermione/Perdita in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Thank you to my brother Frederick for becoming an enthusiastic Shakespeare fan, my parents for never dissuading me from going to school for acting, and to God for His many blessings.
Cameron Small (Valentine) is excited to return to the stage with the Gazebo Players for Two Gentlemen of Verona. Previously, Cam has appeared onstage with the Gazebo Players in Twelfth Night, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Tempest, and A Winter’s Tale. Cam is also the resident Sound Designer for the Gazebo Players, having designed and operated sound for King Lear, Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022), Othello, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Antony and Cleopatra, and others. When not working with the Gazebo Players, Cam can be found teaching at the Walker School in Needham or playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Cynthia Small (Duke of Milan) is delighted to trod the boards with the Bard once again. She last appeared with the Gazebo Players as Egeus/Peter Quince in their 20th anniversary production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other favorite roles include Angelo the Goldsmith Comedy of Errors, Polonia in Hamlet and Antonio the Merchant in The Merchant of Venice. She has also been active onstage, backstage and front of house with the Walpole Footlighters, The Milton Players, Canton Community Theater and Mass Arts Center. She currently serves on the Gazebo Players board of director and chairs the Accessibility Committee at the Walpole Footlighters. By day she is a voiceover and audio description specialist, cynthiasmallvo.com
Juliana Small (Lucetta/Third Outlaw/Musician) made Steve Small drive her to the audition for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2001) and hasn’t gone home yet. She has been (far too) involved in some capacity every year since, most recently onstage as Jessica in Merchant of Venice and backstage as the editor for this very playbill since A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022). Juli holds the Gazebo Players records for “Most Summers Holding Barbara Schapiro’s Props” (8) and “Most Onstage Deaths in a Single Performance” (4).
Grace Walls (Panthino/Second Outlaw/Musician) is happy to be making her Gazebo Players debut as Panthino! She is so grateful and excited to be a part of this production. In the fall, Grace will return to New York to continue her studies of drama and computer science at Hofstra University. Grace would like to thank her family for all their support in her theatrical pursuits. She hopes they, and everyone else, enjoys the show!
KC Coursey (Costumer) is excited to for her second year costuming with the Gazebo Players! She was introduced to Shakespeare in the 8th grade with a Comedy of Errors and has been in love ever since. In her free time she can be found searching for strange trinkets that spark joy, and admiring every cat she meets.
Benjamin Medeiros (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) is a Gazebo veteran who has been on stage and backstage with Gazebo since 2009. Favorite Gazebo credits include King Lear, Othello and Hamlet (Director), The Tempest (Caliban), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius), Love's Labour’s Lost (Berowne), and Twelfth Night (Duke Orsino). Other credits include The Mousetrap and Something Rotten! (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) with Walpole Footlighters, and The Wizard of Oz (Winkie General/Ensemble), Rent (Ensemble) and Hello Dolly! (Ensemble. DASH Award Winner for Best Specialty Ensemble) with Riverside Theater Works. Benjamin also sits on the board of directors of Gazebo Players.
Krishan Oberoi (Original Music) has written extensively for the stage, screen and concert hall. He composed the full-length dance drama SNAKESKIN for Emmy-award winning choreographer John Malashock (La Jolla Playhouse, 2015) and has recently finished the short film horror musical Jen Xponential, which will hit screens in 2025. Renoir’s full-length stage musical Best Time To Be Alive, cowritten with Brooklyn-based playwright Rhiannon Ling, is currently in development in NYC. He is also collaborating with artist Karen Green on an opera based on her 2018 book Frail Sister. As Krishan Oberoi, he has published choral music with Santa Barbara Music Publishing and Endeavor Music Publishing. Future projects include a commission from Japanese-American pianist Yui Narata, and an original work for the chorus of the Tokyo International School, both to be premiered during the 2024-2025 academic year in Tokyo.
Steve Small (Director) has been involved with 20 of Gazebo’s previous productions, but this is his first time directing Shakespeare. Previous directing credits include A Virtual Whodunnit with the Walpole Footlighters and Spider’s Web with the TCAN Players. Steve has worked onstage and backstage with many local theaters over the years, including Milton Players, Curtain Call Theater (Braintree), Canton Community Theater, and the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble (Woonsocket). Steve is the Treasurer of the Gazebo Players and the President of Walpole Footlighters. Thanks to the entire cast and crew for bringing Two Gents to life.
SPECIAL THANKS
Bellforge Art Center
Linda Berman & The Walpole Footlighters
Bird Park
Minta Hissong & The United Church of Christ, Medfield
The Trustees of the Reservation
Johnny Dalton, Kung Pow! Recording and Mastering
Blake Middle School
Cultural Alliance of Medfield
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Jean Mineo
Barbara Keenan
Frank Iafolla
Asher Horton
Needham Bank is proud to support programming provided by the GAZEBO PLAYERS OF MEDFIELD
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Congratulations to The Gazebo Players of Medfield On their 22nd year of productions and this year’s production of Two Gentlemen of Verona
WILLIAM RAVEIS DELTA REALTORS MEDFIELD
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU GAZEBO PLAYERS OF MEDFIELD FOR 22 YEARS OF AMAZING PRODUCTIONS IN OUR MEDFIELD COMMUNITY!! LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS TO COME!
Russ Hallisey
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Serving Medfield and surrounding towns
Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
* July 20, 21, 27, & 28 at the Bellforge Arts Center, Medfield
*August 3 & 4 at Bird Park, Walpole
This production is supported in part by the Medfield and Walpole Cultural Councils, both local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization is happy to support
The Gazebo Players of Medfield
Congratulations on your 2024 production of TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
The Gazebo Players of Medfield are proud to present William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona
Directed by Steve Small
July 20, 21, 27 & 28, Bellforge Art Center, Medfield August 3 & 4, Bird Park, Walpole
There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Medfield Cultural Council and the Walpole Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
The consensus among Shakespeare scholars is that Two Gentlemen of Verona is the first play William Shakespeare wrote, completing it in 1591. It has suffered critically over the years for not being as brilliant as some of the plays that followed, but let’s see if Come Blow Your Horn (Neil Simon’s first play), for example, is still being produced 400+ years later. Shakespeare is often accused of stealing from other playwrights, but Two Gents has quite a few plot devices which Shakespeare will recycle in future plays. There’s the ring trick (also used in All’s Well That Ends Well), the heroine dressing as a man (Twelfth Night, As You Like It), and the servants who know more about the way the world really works than their masters (just about every Shakespearean comedy, as well as some of his tragedies).
In Shakespeare’s time, platonic love between two men was considered to be a higher form of love than the romantic love between a man and a woman. This was because there was no messy lust looming over the bromance. (Apparently the possibility of homosexuality wasn’t considered.) Two Gents explores the subject by adding the complication of the male BFFs falling in love with the same woman. It is one of the earliest surviving love triangle romantic comedies.
Why the Doo Wop era? Early in the play Julia describes Proteus as “divine perfection”. This struck me as the 1590’s version of “he’s so dreamy”, which immediately made me think of numerous 1950’s movies, and the rest just fell into place from that thought. I hope you enjoy our updated Two Gents populated by poodle skirts, nerds, beatniks, and greasers.
Steve Small
CAST
in Order of Appearance
Valentine - Cameron Small
Proteus - Kelly McGowan
Speed - Susan Diller
Julia - Amy Klesert
Lucetta - Juliana Small
Antonio - Barbara Schapiro
Panthino - Grace Walls
Silvia - Anna Sheehan
Launce - Nicki Ramshaw
Crab - Barbara Schapiro
Thurio - Tim Caron
Duke of Milan - Cynthia Small
First Outlaw - Barbara Schapiro
Second Outlaw - Grace Walls
Third Outlaw - Juliana Small
Host - Susan Diller
Musicians - Juliana Small, Grace Walls
Eglamour - Barbara Schapiro
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director - Steve Small
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Benjamin Medeiros
Sound Design - Cameron Small
Costumes - KC Coursey
Props - Juliana Small
Playbill - Juliana Small
Original Artwork - Denise Small
Original Music - Krishan Oberoi
Gazebo Players Board of Directors
Ashley Harmon, President
Barbara Schapiro, Secretary
Steve Small, Treasurer
Marielle Boudreau, Web and Social Media Director
Amy Klesert
Benjamin Medeiros
Cynthia Small
Juliana Small
SYNOPSIS
Valentine, a young gentleman, is preparing to travel to the Duke of Milan’s court. His friend Proteus (the second titular gentleman) has refused to join him because he does not want to leave his beloved Julia. Proteus has sent a letter to Julia via Valentine’s servant, Speed. Upon receiving the letter from her maid, Lucetta, Julia affects disdain and tears the letter up, but confesses in a monologue that she does indeed love Proteus. Meanwhile, Proteus’s father, Antonio, orders Proteus to join Valentine at the Duke’s court to further his education as a gentleman.
In Milan, Valentine has fallen in love with the Duke’s daughter, Silvia. She has asked him to write a love letter to an unknown man, but when he shows it to her, she rejects it as inadequate. Speed understands that Silvia is actually in love with Valentine and has asked him to write letters to himself on her behalf. Back in Verona, Proteus and Julia say farewell and exchange rings. Proteus’s servant Launce complains about his dog, Crab, being insufficiently distressed at his master’s having to leave to follow Proteus to Milan.
Proteus arrives at court and meets Silvia. Valentine confesses to Proteus that he and Silvia plan to elope. In a soliloquy, Proteus reveals that he has fallen in love with Silvia himself and is willing to betray both Julia and Valentine in pursuit of her. Julia meanwhile plans to travel to Milan disguised as a man named Sebastian in order to find Proteus.
Informed by Proteus of the planned elopement, the Duke discovers a letter and a rope ladder concealed under Valentine’s cloak, and he banishes Valentine from his realm. The Duke fears that Valentine has stolen Silvia’s affection away from his chosen suitor for her, Thurio. Proteus offers to meet with Silvia and slander Valentine while promoting Thurio’s suit. The Duke and Thurio agree, thinking Proteus to still be in love with Julia. Proteus suggests that Thurio serenade Silvia at her window.
Valentine is captured by Outlaws. Upon learning that Valentine is a gentleman, as some of them once were, they draft him as their leader. Thurio arrives, along with musicians, to serenade Silvia. Proteus confesses his love to Silvia, but she rebukes him for betraying Julia. He claims that Julia has died, unaware that she is in fact there in disguise. He also says he’s heard that Valentine has died, but Silvia doesn’t believe him. She sets out with Sir Eglamour on a journey to find Valentine. Proteus berates Launce for presenting Silvia with Crab as a gift and hires Sebastian/Julia to be his servant.
The Duke learns of Silvia’s flight and goes after her. Thurio, Proteus, and Julia follow in pursuit. Silvia is captured by the Outlaws, but Proteus rescues her and demands her love as a reward. She refuses and he attempts to force her. Valentine, who has secretly observed this scene, prevents him, berating his friend for his disloyalty. Proteus is stricken with remorse and begs forgiveness, which Valentine grants. The disguised Julia, who was charged with delivering Proteus’s ring to Silvia, mistakenly produces the ring Proteus had given her. An astonished Proteus asks how she came by that ring. Julia reveals herself, and Proteus feels love for her once more. The Outlaws arrive with Thurio and the Duke. Thurio claims Silvia as his, but when Valentine challenges him, he withdraws his claim. The Duke pardons Valentine, along with the Outlaws (whose case Valentine has pled) and awards him Silvia's hand in marriage.
Thank you for supporting the Gazebo Players!
WHO’s WHO in the CAST and CREW
Tim Caron (Thurio) is an immigration attorney from Andover, MA who has been performing in plays and musicals since high school. He has staged an original musical and an original play at two Fringe Festivals on the East Coast, and he made his film debut in 2021 in Emilio Guido Production’s When Max Met Loralie. Favorite past parts include the titular roles in The Count of Monte Cristo and Pippin. Tim has also been composing and releasing music since 2019, with hopes of completing his third solo album by the end of 2024.
Susan Diller (Speed/Host) is excited to be in her first production with the Gazebo Players and her premier in a Shakespeare play. She has performed at The Center for Arts in Natick, at Ashland Community Theater and at Cambridge Adult Ed theater program. She comes to acting through years of teaching children, through the MOTH storytelling and through the simple drama of life. Susan is grateful to her family and friends for all their love and support. She is particularly excited to be Speed in Two Gentleman and have the honor of saying the play’s most famous line!
Amy Klesert (Julia) is so excited to achieve her lifelong dream of playing a Shakespearean heroine who disguises herself as a man! She most recently appeared as Leanne in Puffs at Mass Arts Center. She has worked with Gazebo Players on many previous shows, both onstage (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Starveling/Mustardseed) and backstage.
Kelly McGowan (Proteus) is thrilled to be returning to the Gazebo Players stage for the second year in a row! She played Regan in last summer’s production of King Lear. Some of her other favorite roles are Yonkers/Pastey (Gypsy, Mass Art Center), Narrator (Puffs, Mass Art Center), and Hannah (Carousel, Educational Theater Collaborative). Kelly would like to thank her castmates for being so kind and hilarious and the production team for their endless support and guidance. Also, big shoutout to Kelly’s friends and family for being the best and watching her perform anything (even Shakespeare).
Nicki Ramshaw(Launce) is tickled pink to be playing Launce in her foray with the Gazebo Players. Favorite past roles include Puck from Midsummer Night's Dream (Needham Community Theatre), Siobhan, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Common Thread Theatre), and Our Town's Stage Manager (Needham Community Theatre). She thanks her husband, David, for his support, and her children's overnight camp for giving her seven weeks of summer bliss.
Barbara Schapiro (Antonio/Eglamour/Crab/First Outlaw) has been with the Gazebo Players since its inception and is a member of its board. Favorite roles include Gloucester in King Lear, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gertrude in Hamlet, Brutus in Julius Caesar, Prospera in The Tempest, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. She is also active with the Walpole Footlighters and the Mass Arts Center in Mansfield, where she was recently featured as Sheila in the British farce Relatively Speaking. A dog lover, she thanks Steve for allowing her to play her dream role, Crab!
Anna Sheehan (Silvia) is thrilled for her third summer with Gazebo Players! With Gazebo, Anna loved being ridiculous as the Wall in A Midsummer Night's Dream and losing a duel as Oswald in King Lear. In her junior year at Catholic University, she played Richard II in a twenty-minute cut of the Shakespeare play and Hermione/Perdita in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Thank you to my brother Frederick for becoming an enthusiastic Shakespeare fan, my parents for never dissuading me from going to school for acting, and to God for His many blessings.
Cameron Small (Valentine) is excited to return to the stage with the Gazebo Players for Two Gentlemen of Verona. Previously, Cam has appeared onstage with the Gazebo Players in Twelfth Night, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Tempest, and A Winter’s Tale. Cam is also the resident Sound Designer for the Gazebo Players, having designed and operated sound for King Lear, Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022), Othello, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Antony and Cleopatra, and others. When not working with the Gazebo Players, Cam can be found teaching at the Walker School in Needham or playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Cynthia Small (Duke of Milan) is delighted to trod the boards with the Bard once again. She last appeared with the Gazebo Players as Egeus/Peter Quince in their 20th anniversary production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other favorite roles include Angelo the Goldsmith Comedy of Errors, Polonia in Hamlet and Antonio the Merchant in The Merchant of Venice. She has also been active onstage, backstage and front of house with the Walpole Footlighters, The Milton Players, Canton Community Theater and Mass Arts Center. She currently serves on the Gazebo Players board of director and chairs the Accessibility Committee at the Walpole Footlighters. By day she is a voiceover and audio description specialist, cynthiasmallvo.com
Juliana Small (Lucetta/Third Outlaw/Musician) made Steve Small drive her to the audition for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2001) and hasn’t gone home yet. She has been (far too) involved in some capacity every year since, most recently onstage as Jessica in Merchant of Venice and backstage as the editor for this very playbill since A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022). Juli holds the Gazebo Players records for “Most Summers Holding Barbara Schapiro’s Props” (8) and “Most Onstage Deaths in a Single Performance” (4).
Grace Walls (Panthino/Second Outlaw/Musician) is happy to be making her Gazebo Players debut as Panthino! She is so grateful and excited to be a part of this production. In the fall, Grace will return to New York to continue her studies of drama and computer science at Hofstra University. Grace would like to thank her family for all their support in her theatrical pursuits. She hopes they, and everyone else, enjoys the show!
KC Coursey (Costumer) is excited to for her second year costuming with the Gazebo Players! She was introduced to Shakespeare in the 8th grade with a Comedy of Errors and has been in love ever since. In her free time she can be found searching for strange trinkets that spark joy, and admiring every cat she meets.
Benjamin Medeiros (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) is a Gazebo veteran who has been on stage and backstage with Gazebo since 2009. Favorite Gazebo credits include King Lear, Othello and Hamlet (Director), The Tempest (Caliban), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius), Love's Labour’s Lost (Berowne), and Twelfth Night (Duke Orsino). Other credits include The Mousetrap and Something Rotten! (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) with Walpole Footlighters, and The Wizard of Oz (Winkie General/Ensemble), Rent (Ensemble) and Hello Dolly! (Ensemble. DASH Award Winner for Best Specialty Ensemble) with Riverside Theater Works. Benjamin also sits on the board of directors of Gazebo Players.
Krishan Oberoi (Original Music) has written extensively for the stage, screen and concert hall. He composed the full-length dance drama SNAKESKIN for Emmy-award winning choreographer John Malashock (La Jolla Playhouse, 2015) and has recently finished the short film horror musical Jen Xponential, which will hit screens in 2025. Renoir’s full-length stage musical Best Time To Be Alive, cowritten with Brooklyn-based playwright Rhiannon Ling, is currently in development in NYC. He is also collaborating with artist Karen Green on an opera based on her 2018 book Frail Sister. As Krishan Oberoi, he has published choral music with Santa Barbara Music Publishing and Endeavor Music Publishing. Future projects include a commission from Japanese-American pianist Yui Narata, and an original work for the chorus of the Tokyo International School, both to be premiered during the 2024-2025 academic year in Tokyo.
Steve Small (Director) has been involved with 20 of Gazebo’s previous productions, but this is his first time directing Shakespeare. Previous directing credits include A Virtual Whodunnit with the Walpole Footlighters and Spider’s Web with the TCAN Players. Steve has worked onstage and backstage with many local theaters over the years, including Milton Players, Curtain Call Theater (Braintree), Canton Community Theater, and the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble (Woonsocket). Steve is the Treasurer of the Gazebo Players and the President of Walpole Footlighters. Thanks to the entire cast and crew for bringing Two Gents to life.
SPECIAL THANKS
Bellforge Art Center
Linda Berman & The Walpole Footlighters
Bird Park
Minta Hissong & The United Church of Christ, Medfield
The Trustees of the Reservation
Johnny Dalton, Kung Pow! Recording and Mastering
Blake Middle School
Cultural Alliance of Medfield
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Jean Mineo
Barbara Keenan
Frank Iafolla
Asher Horton
Needham Bank is proud to support programming provided by the GAZEBO PLAYERS OF MEDFIELD
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Medfield Lions Club Celebrating our 80th Anniversary
Congratulations to The Gazebo Players of Medfield On their 22nd year of productions and this year’s production of Two Gentlemen of Verona
WILLIAM RAVEIS DELTA REALTORS MEDFIELD
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU GAZEBO PLAYERS OF MEDFIELD FOR 22 YEARS OF AMAZING PRODUCTIONS IN OUR MEDFIELD COMMUNITY!! LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS TO COME!
Russ Hallisey
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