Hudson Shakespeare Company Wows Crowd in Two Gentlemen of Verona

Lifelong brothers break up. A friendship sours and two ladies who love their men hold fast to their hearts in William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona when the Hudson Shakespeare Company presented its annual Shakespeare in the park summer series 2015 in Hackensack, NJ.

The free show was performed at the New Atlantic Park Outdoor Theatre on State St. adjacent to the new home of the Hackensack Cultural Arts Center and the perfectly clear, cool night couldn’t have been a more fitting backdrop for the Wednesday, Aug. 12th and Aug. 19th shows.

Jon Ciccarelli, HSC co-founder, directed a merry cast of talent that included Lawrence James as Valentine, Tim Marriott as Proteus, longtime HSC member Noelle Fair as Julia, Ashley Burroughs as Lucetta/Host/Outlaw 1, Aaron David Kapner as Launce/Outlaw 2, the very funny Carla Duval as Speed/Sir Eglamour, Susie Duecker as Sylvia, Peter Banks-Kenney as Duke/Antonio and Sam Gibbs as Thurio/Panthino.

Powerful and committed, the HSC was true to Shakespeare’s work. Keeping with the native tongue and dress, they delighted the intimate crowd with their witty performance despite the fact that area construction crews made it difficult at times for the audience to hear them. Their professionalism shined through with ease.

Founded in the late 1990s by Jersey City native the late L. Robert “Luther” Johnson, the Hudson Shakespeare Company continues to provide top-notch performances all over the Tri-State area. Check them out at http://hudsonshakespeare.org.