“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life” (Shakespeare). On May 1st, Daniela took her English 1 class, along with others who were interested in attending Hartford Stage to see Romeo and Juliet.
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families in Verona, Italy. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet deeply fall in love but their family’s hatred forces them to keep their relationship a secret. The play explores themes of love, tragic fate, conflict, and the consequences of hatred. Written by William Shakespeare and was first published in 1597, but this production was a bit different.
According to the playbill, it states interesting ideas for the play by the director, Melia Bensussen. Her culture provided her inspiration for the costume designs and the scenes for the play. Bensussen states in an interview “Using Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebration as a focal point, the production will work on showing the porousness between life and death, the importance of ritual, and the vibrancy and color of Latino culture. Audiences can expect more traditional Mexican clothes and sounds, as well as a more visual and physical storytelling. With an amazing fight choreographer, the production will also abound with sword fighting, movement, and dance.”
Randy Espinal, a senior here at ACE shared what he most enjoyed about the play “I had only been to one play before, and it was done on a stage in front of us. The Romeo and Juliet trip was amazing to watch because the actors were only a few feet in front of us. That immersiveness was new to me. I felt like I was almost truly there, watching the actors walk around us. It was an incredible feeling to see the play I had seen only in movies and stories, reenacted right in front of my eyes. That’s definitely what I enjoyed most.”
