"The Two Gentlemen of Verona has the unenviable distinction of being the least loved and least regarded of Shakespeare's comedies." - The Riverside Shakespeare
The good news is it's a quick read. It's almost frothy, it's so light and insubstantial. The only reasons to like this play are 1. Launce and his dog and b. it's got all of the elements that will become trademark Shakespeare comedy gimmicks: crossdressing, a trip to the woods, outlaws, hiding out with priests, feisty nurses, rings as love tokens that change hands several times in unexpected ways, all that kind of thing.
Let me back up. Proteus and Valentine are best friends. Proteus is in love with Julia. Valentine leaves Verona for Milan to seek his fortune. There he falls in love with Silvia, who is already betrothed to the rich, but dim, Sir Thurio. Proteus gets sent to Milan, also to seek his fortune. There he also falls in love with Silvia (mostly, one gathers, because Valentine's in love with her) and he exposes their plan to elope to her father. Valentine is banished to the woods. Julia, to keep tabs on Proteus, dresses as a boy and goes off to Milan, where she is employed, by Proteus, as a messenger, to bring love notes to Silvia. Silvia consistently rejects Proteus, 'cuz he's creepy, and runs away to the woods to seek out Valentine. Proteus finds her there and tries to rape her (with Julia in tow as his servant, no less). Julia swoons and the truth is out, whereupon Proteus decides one dame is as good as another and Valentine bests Sir Thurio and gets to marry Silvia, and they all live happily ever after (for very low expectations of 'happily'). Proteus' servant Launce and Valentine's servant Speed crack wise throughout.
So, the good news is, there's nowhere to go from here but up!
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