Summer Shakespeare: Poultney Summer Theatre to present ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’

by Dawson Raspuzzi

The Poultney Summer Theatre Company will present its production of William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” eight times between tonight and Aug. 3.

Under the direction of Gary Meitrott, the founder of the summer theater group, a cast of 12 people have been rehearsing since June.

The diverse cast ranges in age from 20 to 65 and in experience from never having previously set foot on a stage, much less performed Shakespeare, to seasoned veterans who have been acting for a good portion of their lives, Meitrott said. However, none have performed with this group for more than one prior production.

The wide array of actors gives the production a unique perspective and experience for the audience, Meitrott said.

“I love (the diversity), one of the problems we have with this culture is, I think, we settle in with our peer groups way too much … so different groups coming together to do theater in general I find incredibly healthy,” he said.

Meitrott said the more experienced actors have helped instruct those with less experience and he is finding hidden talent in the cast.

“Those with more experience are really helping the people who have not done Shakespeare, to help mold them into seeking within themselves to find a sense of confidence and a sense of connecting their emotional body to the character they are playing,” Meitrott said, “and I create a safe environment for them to explore that”

This summer’s production is the fifth year the nonprofit group has put on a production on stage behind St. Raphael Church in Poultney.

Previous productions have included Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Twelfth Night,” and after last year’s play it was Meitrott’s intention to do a more challenging production of “Richard III” although a limited number of actors made the production impossible.

Because only a dozen characters are in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” it made the play a perfect fit for the cast, although not less difficult to perform.

“To me, Shakespeare is like doing theater that is Olympic quality, in the sense of what Shakespeare asks of his actors… he really stretches our ability to articulate and put together complex images,” Meitrott said.

“One of my main themes is to show how entertaining (Shakespeare) is, how he really stretches his audience to what is really being said and I back that up with all of my direction that is very physically oriented.”

Meitrott said in terms of the physicality of his productions, his belief is even if someone in the audience doesn’t understand a word of the play he still hopes that person can be entertained by the play.

“If done well, theater is a full experience of your stomach muscles laughing and your intellect being challenged,” he said.

All productions begin at 7:30 p.m. and are scheduled July 24-27, July 31, and Aug. 1-3. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Productions are weather permitting.

For more information visit www.poultneysummertheatre.com.

Contact Dawson Raspuzzi at dawson.raspuzi@rutlandherald.com.