The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.1913 Tuesday, 31 July 2001
[1] From: Geralyn Horton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 12:41:18 -0400
Subj: Re: SHK 12.1897 Re: Two Gents, Catching Cold
[2] From: Rainbow Saari <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 31 Jul 2001 20:09:07 +1200
Subj: RE; 12. Two Gents
[3] From: Billy Houck <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Monday, 30 Jul 2001 17:56:28 EDT
Subj: Re: Two Gents, Catching Cold and rape scene (long)
[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: Geralyn Horton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 12:41:18 -0400
Subject: 12.1897 Re: Two Gents, Catching Cold
Comment: Re: SHK 12.1897 Re: Two Gents, Catching Cold
>do you
>envision Lucetta taking up the pieces?
The 3 times I have seen this play, SOMEBODY picked up the pieces.
Leaving them to be dealt with in a scene change is just too awkward.
Geralyn Horton, Newton, Mass. 02460
<http://www.stagepage.org>
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rainbow Saari <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 31 Jul 2001 20:09:07 +1200
Subject: RE; 12. Two Gents
Susan St John wrote,
This would make sense if Lucetta leaned down to pick them up; "yet there
[here] they shall not lie" *doesn't* sound like she's suggesting Julia
should pick them up in order that her love not grow cold...do you
envision Lucetta taking up the pieces? and then perhaps Julia snatches
them back on her line??
I do think it likely Lucetta says her line ( for catching cold ) while
picking them up; that's how I'd play it. But it seems less likely that
Julia would reclaim them as she is still feigning disinterest. Pervez
Rizvi informed me that ' a month's mind' comes from a Roman Catholic
practice; a Mass said a month after a person's death. Perhaps Julia is
saying 'I see you have a mind to give them proper burial rites' , which
would suggest she sees Lucetta gathering them up.
Cheers,
Rainbow
[3]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Billy Houck <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Monday, 30 Jul 2001 17:56:28 EDT
Subject: 12.1897 Re: Two Gents, Catching Cold and rape scene
Comment: Re: SHK 12.1897 Re: Two Gents, Catching Cold and rape scene
(long)
Here's how we play the scene in my production of Two Gents, (closing
this Saturday at the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival in San Luis
Obispo, California.) Billy Houck
Stage directions are in caps.
JULIA I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA Peruse this paper, madam. SHE GIVES JULIA THE LETTER
JULIA 'To Julia.' Say, from whom?
LUCETTA That the contents will show.
JULIA Say, say, who gave it thee?
LUCETTA Valentine's page; and sent, I think, from Proteus.
He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault I pray.
JULIA Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!
Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth
And you an officer fit for the place.
Or else return no more into my sight. SHE ANGRILY HANDS THE
LETTER
BACK TO LUCETTA
LUCETTA To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
JULIA Will ye be gone?
LUCETTA That you may ruminate. SHE PUTS THE LETTER ON THE FLOOR IN
PLAIN
VIEW
Exit
JULIA HUNGRILY LOOKING AT THE LETTER, BUT TOO PROUD TO PICK IT UP:
And yet I would I had o'erlooked the letter:
It were a shame to call her back again
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What a fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say 'no' to that
Which they would have the profferer construe 'ay.'
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse
And presently all humbled kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence,
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is to call Lucetta back
And ask remission for my folly past.
What ho! Lucetta! Re-enter LUCETTA
LUCETTA What would your ladyship?
JULIA Is't near dinner-time?
LUCETTA I would it were,
That you might kill your stomach on your meat
And not upon your maid. PICKS UP THE LETTER.
JULIA What is't that you took up so gingerly?
LUCETTA Nothing.
JULIA Why didst thou stoop, then?
LUCETTA To take a paper up that I let fall.
JULIA And is that paper nothing?
LUCETTA Nothing concerning me.
JULIA Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
LUCETTA Madam, it will not lie where it concerns
Unless it have a false interpeter.
JULIA Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
LUCETTA That I might sing it, madam, to a tune.
Give me a note: your ladyship can set. TORMENTING HER WITH THE
UNOPENED LETTER
JULIA As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of 'Light o' love.'
LUCETTA OPENS THE LETTER, REACTS "HOT STUFF": It is too heavy for so
light
a tune.
JULIA Heavy! belike it hath some burden then?
LUCETTA PLAYING KEEP AWAY WITH THE LETTER: Ay, and melodious were it,
would
you sing it.
JULIA And why not you?
LUCETTA I cannot reach so high.
JULIA Let's see your song. How now, minion!
LUCETTA Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out:
JULIA GRABS HER HAIR TO STOP HER FROM GETTING AWAY:
And yet methinks I do not like this tune.
JULIA You do not?
LUCETTA No, madam; it is too sharp.
JULIA You, minion, are too saucy. SHE TAKES THE LETTER BACK FROM
LUCETTA
LUCETTA Nay, now you are too flat
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song.
JULIA The mean is drown'd with your unruly bass.
LUCETTA Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
JULIA This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.
Here is a coil with protestation!
SHE TEARS THE LETTER UP, STILL UNREAD, AND THROWS THE PIECES ON THE
GROUND
Go get you gone, and let the papers lie:
You would be fingering them, to anger me.
LUCETTA She makes it strange; but she would be best pleased
To be so anger'd with another letter. Exit
JULIA Nay, would I were so anger'd with the same!
O hateful hands, to tear such loving words! PICKING UP THE
PIECES OF
THE LETTER
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!
I'll kiss each several paper for amends. KISSES SEVERAL
PIECES..READS
ONE
Look, here is writ 'kind Julia.' Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude,
I throw thy name against the bruising stones, WADS UP ONE PIECE
AND
STOMPS ON IT
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain. READS ANOTHER
And here is writ 'love-wounded Proteus.' CLUTCHES THE PIECE OF
PAPER
TO HER BREAST
Poor wounded name! my bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee till thy wound be thoroughly heal'd;
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss. KISSES IT HUNGRILY,
TUCKS
IT INTO HER BOSOM
But twice or thrice was 'Proteus' written down.
THROWS HERSELF ACROSS THE PAPERS THAT ARE STILL DOWN, SO THEY WON.T BLOW
AWAY
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear
Unto a ragged fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea! READING ANOTHER
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
'Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:' that I'll tear away. STARTS TO TEAR, STOPS
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another: DOES A LITTLE "SHOW" OF THE
PAPER KISSING ITSELF,
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will. LIES BACK,
CARRIED
AWAY WITH THE MOMENT
Re-enter LUCETTA
LUCETTA Madam,
Dinner is ready, and your father stays. JUMPS UP, STARTLED,
EMBARRASSED
JULIA Well, let us go. STARTS OFF
LUCETTA What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
JULIA If you respect them, best to take them up. ORDERING LUCETTA TO
PICK
THEM UP
LUCETTA REFUSING TO DO IT:
Nay, I was taken up for laying them down:
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
JULIA I see you have a month's mind to them. SHE PICKS THEM UP
LUCETTA HELPING HER TO PICK THEM UP
Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
JULIA Come, come; will't please you go? THEY EXIT, FRIENDS
AGAIN.
One further note: this is a modern dress production. At first I was
stuck
about what to do with the attempted rape (if that's what it really is)
in the
last scene.
I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has any other solutions to
how
to stage this rather bizarre ending.
Here's what we wound up doing:
PROTEUS Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words
Can no way change you to a milder form,
I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms' end, HE GRABS HER ROUGHLY
And love you 'gainst the nature of love,--force ye.
SILVIA O heaven!
PROTEUS I'll force thee yield to my desire.
HE KISSES HER HARD
SHE SCRATCHES HIS FACE
HE PULLS BACK IN PAIN
SHE GRABS HIS HAIR AND SLAMS HIS FACE INTO A PLATFORM
HE STAGGERS BACK, STUNNED
SHE KICKS HIM SQUARELY IN THE CROTCH
HE FALLS ON HIS BACK IN PAIN
SHE JUMPS ON HIM, ONE HAND ON HIS THROAT, THE OTHER SQUEEZING HIS
TESTICLES
HE WRITES IN PAIN (the audience is always cheering by this point)
VALENTINE (coming forward) Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion!
PROTEUS Valentine!
VALENTINE Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,
For such is a friend now; treacherous man!
SYLVIA LETS GO OF PROTEUS' THROAT, DISCOVERS SHE HAS CHIPPED A NAIL,
GRABS
HIS THROAT AGAIN.
Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted, when one's own right hand
Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest: O time most accurst,
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
PROTEUS My shame and guilt confounds me.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender 't here; I do as truly suffer
As e'er I did commit.
VALENTINE (CONSIDERS IT, THEN:) Then I am paid;
HE PRIES SYLVIA OFF OF PROTEUS AND HELPS HIM UP.
And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased.
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased:
ONE HAND ON SYLVIA, ONE HAND ON PROTEUS
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
HE EASES SYLVIA TOWARD PROTEUS. PROTEUS, STILL IN PAIN, BACKS AWAY.
SYLVIA,
FURIOUS, BUNCHES VALENTINE IN THE STOMACH.
JULIA (Sebastian) O me unhappy! FAINTS
PROTEUS Look to the boy.
VALENTINE HELPING JULIA UP Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the
matter?
Look up; speak.
JULIA (Sebastian) O good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring
to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.
PROTEUS Where is that ring, boy?
JULIA (Sebastian) Here 'tis; this is it. GIVES HIM THE "WRONG" RING.
PROTEUS How! let me see:
Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
JULIA (Sebastian) O, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
SHOWS HIM THE OTHER RING BY RAISING HER MIDDLE FINGER TO HIM. (American
signal for "fuck you")
PROTEUS But how camest thou by this ring? At my depart
I gave this unto Julia.
JULIA (Sebastian) And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
SHE TAKES OFF HER HAT AND GLASSES. HE RECOGNIZES HER.
PROTEUS How! Julia!
JULIA Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain'd 'em deeply in her heart.
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!
O Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
In a disguise of love:
It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
Women to change their shapes than men their minds.
PROTEUS Than men their minds! 'tis true.
O heaven! were man
But constant, he were perfect. That one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins:
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye?
VALENTINE Come, come, a hand from either:
JOINING JULIA AND PROTEUS' HANDS
Let me be blest to make this happy close;
'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
PROTEUS Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.
JULIA And I mine.
SHE GRABS HIM BY THE EAR, AND DRAGS HIM TO A BENCH, WHERE THEY SIT AND
MAKE
UP DURING THE OUTLAW SCENE THAT FOLLOWS.
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