FAIRBANKS — Campy, colorful, ridiculous fun probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you think of Shakespeare.

But it is if you’re watching the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre’s musical version of “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

Being performed in repertoire with “Measure for Measure,” the “Two Gentlemen of Verona” shines in its outdoor setting in the woods of Jack Townshend Point. With a strong cast that embraces the complicated love story as camp and then goes for the gusto by accepting all things kitsch, including ’70s show tunes, vibrant costumes, oversized props, face paint, glitter and confetti.

In the long-standing Shakespeare tradition of switching locations, director Brandon Michael has moved the musical from Verona and Milan to the Mexican countryside and Rio de Janeiro to capture the youthful passion of the original text.

While signs still mark that they are in Verona and Milan, there are small indicators to the location change. The actors dress in Spanish-style dress; the women in long and flowing dresses with plenty of ruffles, and the men in loose-fitting shirts, trousers with a sombrero or poncho mixed in. Occasionally, actors use a line of Spanish dialogue, but only one character, Thurio (Casey Seward), has a Spanish accent.

The strong cast navigates the complex story with wit and character. It’s basically romance on a road trip — but it’s a doozy. The relationships are complicated, to say the least — Proteus (Robert Wighs) loves Julia (Julia VanderVeen), Valentine (Lee Graham) falls in love with Silvia (Flyn Ludington), who is betrothed to Thurio, but she is still missing former love Eglamour (Jeff Aldrich.) Then Proteus falls in love the moment he sees Silvia and forgets Julia, until she returns at the end.

Confused yet? When the musical ended, a friend mentioned that he really enjoyed the performance but added, “I still don’t get what happened.”

Actors VanderVeen and Wighs are saddled with navigating the more complex Julia and Proteus. At first Julia isn’t interested in Proteus’ advances, but after being struck by Cupid’s (Samantha Gomez) arrow, she falls for him. VanderVeen fully embodies the ups and downs of Julia’s emotions, not caring for Proteus one moment then falling head over heels the next.

Graham’s Valentine brings a suave, soul vibe to the musical. Easily a head taller than his fellow cast members, Graham infuses Valentine with an easy awareness. While other cast members seem unhinged, Graham eases everyone back to reality with his calm demeanor.

Ludington’s impressive stage presence makes the very wanted Silvia seem even more wanted during the course of the play.

There are some technical issues the musical struggles with. The outdoor setting is not ideal for acoustics. Several times, cast members fell flat as they were unable to project their voices to the audience. The presence of two handheld mics helped for solos or duets but caused the characters to step out of the action when they asked for or went to grab the mic.

And while the sun makes for a pleasant backdrop for the audience, it makes an uncomfortable situation for the actors. With the sun beating down on them during most of the first half, the actors began to melt. By the end of the first song nearly the entire cast had red faces and sweaty brows. Luckily, for them, the sun had moved passed the stage by the beginning of the second act, giving them a chance to cool down.

But even with the heat, the actors make use of the outdoor stage, entering from multiple angles, including the audience entrance. It added excitement, especially as the chorus runs on stage squealing like teenage girls at a Miley Cyrus concert.

Bug spray is a must. Despite several warm, dry days, it wasn’t enough to keep the bugs off during the 2 1/2-hour production. If you don’t bring your own insect repellent, the company has some available. Don’t be afraid to use it.

Overall, “Two Gentlemen” is a musical meditation on the passion of young love. It may be complicated, and even a little confusing, but ultimately it entertains.

Contact features writer Suzanna Caldwell at 459-7504.