A Pleasing Outdoor Journey to ‘Verona’

Judging from the boisterous crowd response to “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival has successfully parlayed the inherently appealing concept of free Shakespeare in the park into a successful bond with the Thousand Oaks community.

Now in its second year, this joint venture between Santa Susana Repertory Company and California Lutheran University draws from a diverse mix of professional and semiprofessional talent. And while that unevenness was apparent, so too was the audience enthusiasm--you rarely hear this many laughs at a conventional production of “Gentlemen.”

One of Shakespeare’s earliest (and least performed) comedies, the play suffers inherent liabilities in its derivative use of women disguised as men, the fickle inconstancy of youthful friendships and romantic infatuation, retreat into the forest and other devices the Bard would employ with far greater sophistication as his craft matured.

In response to these limitations, director Michael J. Arndt has opted to supplement the work with a resetting in the breezy innocence of 1914, abundant clowning that makes the plot almost secondary and even some audience participation.

As head clown and unofficial master of ceremonies, Mark Blankfield delightfully stretches his mercurial servant Launce in every direction, including a stint as a ballpark peanut vendor. In a more conventional reading, JJ Rogers impresses as Julia, the spurned lover who dons a page’s garb in pursuit of her fickle Proteus (Brett Elliott). As the new object of Proteus’ affection--as well as that of Proteus’ former friend Valentine (Derek Medina)--Leigh Sandness is given less to do but adds dimension by subtly signaling that she sees through Julia’s disguise. Niall Padden invests the presiding Duke with more depth than usually accompanies these authoritarian roles.

The picnic ambience is sanctioned with an intermission featuring grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and catering by Domino’s. Next stop--the Catskills.

* “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Kingsmen Park Theatre, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks. This Sunday, next Friday, July 25-26, 8 p.m. Free ($20 limited reserved seating). (805) 493-3415. Running time: 2 hours, 55 minutes.