Two Noble Kinsmen, The by SHAKESPEARE, William and FLETCHER, John

The Two Noble Kinsmen is a Jacobean tragicomedy co-written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, first published in 1634. Set in ancient Greece during a war between Athens and Thebes, the narrative follows the title characters, Palamon and Arcite, noble youths whose friendship is destroyed by their mutual love for the beautiful Emilia. The subplot deals with the love and eventual madness of the Gaolers Daughter, who falls hopelessly in love with Palamon. The play is based on The Knights Tale by Chaucer, but also has echoes of Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, as two of the major characters are Theseus and Hippolyta, who also appear in the earlier play. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)CastNarrator/Gaolers Daughter: Elizabeth KlettFirst Queen/Nell: Arielle LipshawSecond Queen/Waiting-woman: Beth ThomasThird Queen/Taborer: Charlotte DuckettTheseus: Bruce PirieHippolyta: Libby GohnEmilia: Amanda FridayPirithous: ToddPalamon: David NicolArcite: mbValerius/Bavian/First Friend: Patti CunninghamHerald/Messenger: tovarischGaoler: Algy PugWooer: Eden Rea-HedrickFirst Countryman/Gentleman/Doctor: balaThird Countryman/Gaolers Brother/Servant/Third Knight: Brett W. DowneyFourth Countryman/First Knight: Anna SimonGerrold/Second Knight: Alan MapstoneAudio edited by Elizabeth Klett