In Love with Shakespeare
I’ve been meaning to write a post on this ever since I got back from the park Saturday night. I had forgotten how much I love Shakespeare, and in this case, specifically Romeo and Juliet.
Oh, yeah, I’ve always adored the Bard. I’ve read most of the plays, seen - let me see - 16 different ones live, and two or three others in movie form. I’ve read all but a few of the histories at least once, and some many times.
But it’s been a while since I dipped back into it. (My beloved old collection of plays that I bought at a church garage sale [I think] ages ago, literally fell apart a few years back, and although I have a few of my favorites, I have yet to replace the complete set.)
And, so this was almost like being introduced to Shakespeare for the first time. Well, part that, and part encountering an old flame and falling in love all over again.
I’ve been going to see this troupe of actors for about seven summers now. For a small community theater, some high-quality performances have been given. They have a few cast members who were born to do Shakespeare. There seem to have been an influx of new actors in recent years, and two or three of my personal favorites have apparently moved on, a loss I grieved.
So, to the play: The stage setting was even more sparse than usual for the permanent stage was lost to fire for the second time in two and a half years. (First was lightning, this spring, it was arson.)
However, the relocation to the local college campus (my alma mater!) placed the stage close enough to some landscaped greenery, that Romeo was able to actually hide amongst the trees to escape Mercutio, and crouch in the bushes to spy upon Juliet, all in full sight and sound of the audience. That was cool.
Speaking of Mercutio, I wasn’t that thrilled with the actor playing him - until after the duel with Tybalt. Then he nailed it. He completely knocked it out of the park.
The girl who played Angelica was adorable. She stole just about every scene she was in. According to the program, she’s only just graduated and is entering the UCO drama school this semester, so I look forward to seeing her in future years.
Romeo and Juliet were enjoying being in love so much. They were almost giggly-schmoopy in the earlier/happier scenes. It was a lot of fun to watch, the audience kept almost laughing at how endearing it was.
Three things I had forgotten/recalled while watching the performance:
I had forgotten how distasteful Lord Capulet was. His ferocious attack on poor stricken Juliet and hideous excuse of an “apology” were so powerfully done, I half expected the audience to boo him as he exited.
On the other hand, I had forgotten what a nice guy Romeo is, if a little moony, and somewhat rash. His line to the apothecary, “Farewell; buy food, and get thyself in flesh,” actually made me almost teary ‘cause he was so distraught at the time, and going to die soon, and yet makes that thoughtful little polite comment.
The language! I loved revisiting how beautiful and melodic the twists and curls of Shakespeare’s phrases. How inspiring, how moving. It makes you feel better just to hear it.
Romeo’s death scene was agonizing, no simple gasping collapse for him. The actor somehow managed to turn beet-red within seconds of swallowing the poison. Then, while he lies in convulsions on the floor, Juliet’s fingers flex.
When she moved, I heard these two women somewhere behind me gasp out loud. And as Romeo’s fit weakens and Juliet’s stirring grows, I heard one of them breathe, “It’s so sad.”
Isn’t that great? The author has been dead for half a millennium and he can still move people sitting in a blanket in a park in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Let me say it one more time: I love Shakespeare.
Oh, yeah, I’ve always adored the Bard. I’ve read most of the plays, seen - let me see - 16 different ones live, and two or three others in movie form. I’ve read all but a few of the histories at least once, and some many times.
But it’s been a while since I dipped back into it. (My beloved old collection of plays that I bought at a church garage sale [I think] ages ago, literally fell apart a few years back, and although I have a few of my favorites, I have yet to replace the complete set.)
And, so this was almost like being introduced to Shakespeare for the first time. Well, part that, and part encountering an old flame and falling in love all over again.
I’ve been going to see this troupe of actors for about seven summers now. For a small community theater, some high-quality performances have been given. They have a few cast members who were born to do Shakespeare. There seem to have been an influx of new actors in recent years, and two or three of my personal favorites have apparently moved on, a loss I grieved.
So, to the play: The stage setting was even more sparse than usual for the permanent stage was lost to fire for the second time in two and a half years. (First was lightning, this spring, it was arson.)
However, the relocation to the local college campus (my alma mater!) placed the stage close enough to some landscaped greenery, that Romeo was able to actually hide amongst the trees to escape Mercutio, and crouch in the bushes to spy upon Juliet, all in full sight and sound of the audience. That was cool.
Speaking of Mercutio, I wasn’t that thrilled with the actor playing him - until after the duel with Tybalt. Then he nailed it. He completely knocked it out of the park.
The girl who played Angelica was adorable. She stole just about every scene she was in. According to the program, she’s only just graduated and is entering the UCO drama school this semester, so I look forward to seeing her in future years.
Romeo and Juliet were enjoying being in love so much. They were almost giggly-schmoopy in the earlier/happier scenes. It was a lot of fun to watch, the audience kept almost laughing at how endearing it was.
Three things I had forgotten/recalled while watching the performance:
I had forgotten how distasteful Lord Capulet was. His ferocious attack on poor stricken Juliet and hideous excuse of an “apology” were so powerfully done, I half expected the audience to boo him as he exited.
On the other hand, I had forgotten what a nice guy Romeo is, if a little moony, and somewhat rash. His line to the apothecary, “Farewell; buy food, and get thyself in flesh,” actually made me almost teary ‘cause he was so distraught at the time, and going to die soon, and yet makes that thoughtful little polite comment.
The language! I loved revisiting how beautiful and melodic the twists and curls of Shakespeare’s phrases. How inspiring, how moving. It makes you feel better just to hear it.
Romeo’s death scene was agonizing, no simple gasping collapse for him. The actor somehow managed to turn beet-red within seconds of swallowing the poison. Then, while he lies in convulsions on the floor, Juliet’s fingers flex.
When she moved, I heard these two women somewhere behind me gasp out loud. And as Romeo’s fit weakens and Juliet’s stirring grows, I heard one of them breathe, “It’s so sad.”
Isn’t that great? The author has been dead for half a millennium and he can still move people sitting in a blanket in a park in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Let me say it one more time: I love Shakespeare.