"With its improbable plot, comic opera outlaws, and attempted rape being rewarded with the mutual happiness of a double marriage, this early study of friendship and betrayal is no one's favourite comedy."
"Dr Johnson talked of its unresisting imbecility and Shaw called it for the most part stagey trash of the lowest melodramatic order. The plot is a mish-mash of Holinshed and Boccaccio, classical Rome and Renaissance Italy."
"Omitted from the First Folio, this is now accepted as Shakespeare's final work, on which he collaborated with John Fletcher. Based on Chaucer's The Knight's Tale, it has some authentically Shakespearean lines."
"This is the play that in 1613 caused the original Bankside theatre to catch fire during a performance, marking a significant moment in theatrical history."
Shakespeare's works, including 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' and 'Cymbeline', reveal a blend of comedy and tragedy, exploring themes of friendship and betrayal. 'The Two Noble Kinsmen', co-written with John Fletcher, reflects on love and rivalry, while 'Henry VIII' showcases the complexities of virtue and power. Each play, despite mixed critical reception, contains memorable lines and characters that resonate through performances over the years, illustrating Shakespeare's enduring impact on theatre.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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