Quintessence Theatre Group presents Shakespeare's 'Love's Labor's Lost'

The repertory's contrasting production, with the same cast and set, is John Ford's rarely seen The Broken Heart (March 29 through April 23). If it's as successful a tragedy as Love's Labor's Lost is a comedy, they'll be a must-see pair of opposites.

Quintessence artistic director Alexander Burns excelled with large-scale classical drama in his first six seasons, but Love's Labor's Lost reveals a confident comedic approach exceeding his earlier efforts. While he updates the play with Christina Bullard's slick modern costumes, pounding house music (including Ronald Corp's original songs), Kaki Burns's fun choreography, and David Sexton's multicolored club lighting, the play's essence -- the delights and anxieties of young love -- shines through in his physically dynamic yet verbally sparkling staging.

Lots of lovers

The King of Navarre (Lee Cortopassi) and three friends (John Williams, Ashton Carter, and Christopher Garofalo) vow to pursue a three-year fast from all of life's joys except academic study. Soon after making the deal, however, the princess of France (Mattie Hawkinson) arrives with three ladies (Dana Kreitz, Aneesa Neibauer, and Kristin Devine). Four couples will inevitably pair off, with most of their interaction in the play an extended flirtation, the women proving cleverer than the men (with the help of Michael Gamache's smart servant Boyet).

Subplots enliven the proceedings. Spanish braggart Armando, played with hilariously tortured accent and heroic posing by Josh Carpenter, loves flirty Jaquenetta (Ebony Pullman). Pompous schoolteacher Holofernes (Gregory Isaac) and doddering curate Nathaniel (John Basiulis) team with Armando, his page Moth (Josiah Jacoby), and Costard (Daniel Miller) to put on a show.

Only two actors, Gamache and Pullman, play double roles and every part is ably cast -- which, for those nervous about Shakespeare, keeps Love's Labor's Lost easy to follow. The high-energy cast handles not only Burns's choreography well, but also Ian Rose's inventively humorous fights.

Not lesser

Like Coriolanus, now playing at the Lantern Theater Company, Love's Labor's Lost is often disregarded as lesser Shakespeare. But it's still Shakespeare, chock full of wit and wisdom. Moreover, the play offers treats for Shakespeare fans, who might see it as a rough draft for greater plays to come. As in A Midsummer Night's Dream (now playing at the Arden Theatre Company), nobles poke gentle fun at a silly show performed by ordinary folk. As in As You Like It and Much Ado About Nothing, characters use disguises to trick lovers playfully.

Love's Labor's Lost surprises, however, with its melancholy finale, which sets up the lost -- but never found -- sequel, Love's Labor's Won. Burns and company play the ending just right, with a lovely full-cast rendition of Shakespeare's closing song that perfectly caps the evening's warmth and fun.