Short Shakespeare! “Romeo & Juliet” by Al Bresloff with Lily Kienzle and Katie Kollasch

***** Shakespeare! How often I have heard people say they cannot attend one of his plays due to the “language”. The works of  “The Bard” are all in English, but “Olde English”, which is why when they start “Romeo & Juliet” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, they tall the audience ( both young and old) that if you watch the actors actions, what they are saying will indeed make sense. The time is the 1980’s ( before cell phones). It does work!

What Chicago Shakes does with their version is amazing, and as I watched the audience react, I saw some elderly people truly “get into it” and of course the younger people in the audience were witness to one of the greatest love stories ever told, but in a way that they would understand the whole idea. When I left for the theater this morning to meet my junior reviewers ( more later) and their driver/mom, I said to Jane, “I wonder if the younger set will feel they are watching “West Side Story” without the music”. In many ways with  this version, directed with great style by Mikael Burke ( who also did the adaptation) there are scenes that make you feel the same way you did when you watched the dance scene and the “rumble”.

I must say that choreographer Frankie DiCiaccio did some amazing work with the opening number as well as the dance scene and Rachel Flesher’s fight choreography was outstanding. One must remember that when you are in the Courtyard Theater at Navy Pier, there are audience members just feet away from the stage, so there are moments those in the first row  get a little rattled. The actors also use the aisles for exits and entrances, so there are often times when you might feel their motion as they run on or off the stage.

The story of “Romeo & Juliet” is one that everyone knows. The Montagues (Romeo’s family) and the Capulets ( Juliet’s family) have been enemies for longer than anyone can recall. At the onset of the production, during  a brawl on the streets, it is declared by the Prince (Adeoye) that the feud must come to an end. Romeo ( played to perfection by Kenneth La’Ron Hamilton) is just getting over a lost love affair and so his friends Benvolio ( deftly handled by Alex Benito Rodriguez) and Mercuti0 ( Rasell Holt, who knows how to play for the comic touch) take him to the Capulet party. There he spies the enchanting Juliet ( the powerful Felicia Oduh) and the romance begins.

Just as we saw in the musical “West Side Story”, based on this play, the love affair must be hidden and in this 75 minute production, they need to move fast.  They have a secret wedding. Romeo feels that this may be the way to bring the families together. Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt (Ian Maryfield) tries to get Romeo to fight him, but he won’t. Mercutio steps in to accept the challenge and is killed by Tybalt. Romeo is enraged by this and ends up stabbing his cousin-in-law Tybalt, leaving the Capulet family in a position where they want him dead and they will now allow Juliet to wed Paris (Jack DeCesare). Juliet tells them that it is Romeo she loves and wants.

She goes to Friar Lawrence ( this is where we witnessed something that doesn’t happen often. Jonah D. Winston, one of my Chicago favorites was scheduled to do the show and evidently could not go on so in his place, on very short notice, the role was taken on by Benjamin Jenkins, who had paper in hand  for some very tense scenes and did a masterful job). I am in hopes that Winston is fine and will return. If not, I know that in a matter of time, Jenkins will no longer need the guides. Back to the story: A plan is made where Juliet will drink a potion that will make it appear that she is dead. Romeo will be told to go to the family crypt and await Juliet’s awakening and then they can go far away and start their new life together.  Romeo never gets the note and hears she is dead, so he purchases a vial of poison so he can join her. He dies. She awakes to find him in her crypt, uses his sabre to kill herself. The two families see what has come from their feud and decide that it is time to honor their children by ending it, thus even in tragedy, we have a happy ending ( sort of).

The ensemble players make this a quick and solid production that holds the attention of both young and old. Bobby Bowman, Ronald Conner, Barbara Figgins, Carolyn Kruse, Donavan Session were the others in this finely tuned adaptation of a Shakespeare classic. After the show ends, the actors stay on stage and speak to the audience, answering a number of questions about some of the things that were seen. Gregory Graham’s costumes were a combination of today’s fashion and a little of the era. The lighting (Eric Watkins) and sound ( Ethan Korvne, who also did the original music) also are a part of making this Short Shakespeare production one that will open  up one’s mind to the great plays of yore!

“Romeo & Juliet” will continue at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier thru March 16th with performances as follows:

TO THE PUBLIC: Saturdays   11:00 a.m.

During the week, schools from all over the Chicago area will be going to Navy Pier for this wonderful experience

On Saturday, March 9th, the performance will feature an ASL Interpretation as well as Open Caption

There is discount parking in the Navy Pier garage , but you need to have your ticket validated at the theater.

To order tickets call312-595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.comhttp://www,chicagoshakes.com

to see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “”Romeo & Juliet” Short Shakespeare.

photos Liz Lauren

THE JUNIOR REVIEWERS 

My two reviewers, both theater buffs ( and actresses’) are Katie Kollasch a junior at Lake Forest High School and Lily Kienzle , a sophomore. Here they are pictured after the performances, and  Q & A with the performers Felicia Oduh ( Juliet) and Kenneth La’Ron Hamilton ( Romeo!)

Here is what they had to say: Katie: “This production of “Romeo & Juliet” captures the beauty and the power of love in a way that was very easy to understand”.

“I loved the diverse cast as they performed their roles so perfectly and how they made the play understandable to the audience. I also loved how comedy was incorporated into a play that involves tragedy”!

 Lily: “The show was incredible and very easy to follow along, despite written mostly in Elizabethan English.” “The fact that they produced this play in just three weeks amazes me!”

“The woman who played Juliet’s nurse ( Barbara Figgins) was phenomenal: her acting was flawless!”.

You heard it from high-schoolers. Think back to your days in high school and your thoughts about works by William Shakespeare. This is the way to get young people into the classics!