"With the skill of an actor like Ben Curns, a man who breathes color and life into Shakespeare’s rough outline, it’s little surprise that the monologues are memorable; however, with a sidekick like Augusta Dog Adoptions’ Jed, it’s quite a shock that even Curns isn’t upstaged...Given Launce, a character who only appears in a handful of scenes with few memorable qualities other than his love for his dog (no matter how much he denies it), Curns finds ways to add detail and shading to the clown—even as he endures the crowd’s clear adoration of his sidekick. But the marvel here is not Jed; it is Curns—an actor who knows how to put the spotlight on his scene partner, and, in so doing, allows it to reflect best on himself."

"There are many things that ASC does well, but one of the best is their ability to find the tragedy in the comedy and the comedy in the tragedy. And so, in that final scene, as Proteus finds himself, weapon in hand, facing both the reality of his treachery and the anguish of his choices, I am momentarily reminded of Shakespeare’s Macbeth...If pencil sketches like Launce and Proteus are what are necessary for Shakespeare to later create some of my favorite characters in literature, then so be it, especially if actors like those at the American Shakespeare Center are there to color in the outlines."

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE...

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Written by Tory Talbot Virchow, Shenandoah Press, 8.17.12

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