Love, Loyalty, and the New World: Avant Bard's 'Two Gentlemen of Killarney'

Avant Bard Theatre is currently presenting The Two Gentlemen of Killarney, a richly inventive adaptation of Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, running through March 28 at Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two in Arlington, Virginia. Written and directed by Seamus Miller, this production transplants Shakespeare's classic story of friendship, rivalry, and romance from Renaissance Italy to the era of Ireland's Great Famine, creating something that feels both historically grounded and urgently contemporary.

The story follows two best friends, Cillian and Finnegan, whose bond is tested when Cillian departs Ireland for America in search of a better life. Finnegan reluctantly follows, leaving behind his love Saoirse, only to find himself falling for the same woman - Silvia - who has already captured Cillian's heart. What unfolds is a comedic tangle of misplaced affections, disguises, and reconciliations, all set against the backdrop of the immigrant experience in a new and not always welcoming land. The arc of Shakespeare's original - coming of age, loyalty tested by love, and betrayal weighed against forgiveness - remains intact, while the Irish setting lends the story a new emotional urgency.

Colin Villacorte brings wide-eyed idealism to Cillian, while Stephen Kime plays Finnegan with cunning confidence, making the rivalry between the two feel both natural and genuinely funny. Kiana Johnson gives Silvia a real backbone and independence, and Ali Haas is captivating as the love-struck Saoirse, mastering the Irish dialect with charm and authenticity. A pair of comic standouts - Maryanne Henderson as the quick-witted servant Speed and Rachel Johns as the scene-stealing Crab - keep the energy lively and the audience smiling throughout. Christopher Henley, a familiar face in Avant Bard productions, appears in a dual role as both fathers, and the rest of the ensemble delivers across the board.

Music is woven seamlessly throughout the production, with music director Emily Erickson's vocal arrangements drawing on traditional Irish songs to deepen the storytelling rather than merely decorate it. Cast members pick up guitars, drums, and other instruments, joined by Ellie Cattle on fiddle, creating the feel of a vibrant hoolie that shifts fluidly between celebration and quiet commentary. Traditional songs like "Cockles and Mussels" and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" sit alongside sharper material that speaks directly to the immigrant experience, culminating in an original company number that serves as the production's most pointed statement on why people leave home and what they hope to find.

Now celebrating its 36th season, Avant Bard Theatre has built a reputation for reimagining classic works with intelligence and theatrical flair, and The Two Gentlemen of Killarney is a strong example of that mission in action.