Adia Keene

Red Group
10/10/16
Play Review
The Lansburgh Theater put on a production of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet that took
place in modern times, which is indicated through the setting, costuming and actions because all
of the words spoken remained the same.The classic tragedy details the romance of Romeo
Montague and Juliet Capulet, who are the teenage children of two prominent, rivaling families in
Verona, Italy. The entire play occurs over the course of three days, but in the end, both Romeo
and Juliet end up committing suicide out of love for each other. However, after much suffering is
endured by both the Montagues and the Capulets, the families make amends. The story is a great
reminder that, though tragedy is damaging, it can bring people together.
One thing to note about William Shakespeares play is that no matter how timeless it may
be, some scenes can be incredibly awkward, such as when Romeo and Juliet declare that they
love each other in their first conversation. They hardly make time for introductions. Considering
this, Ayana Workman does a great job portraying Juliet throughout the short lived romance.
Though there are many talented actors and actresses on that stage, few are quite as emotional as
she. Workmans ability to use emotions on all ends of the spectrum makes her role as a fourteen
year old girl who is sure that she has found the love of her life very convincing. Other notable
performances in that theater on October 2nd came from Inga Ballard as the Nurse and Jeffrey
Carlson as Mercutio. Though Romeo and Juliet is a sad play, Juliets nurse and Romeos friend,
Mercutio, brings a little bit of humor to the mix. Ingas confidence and ability to deliver lines
with perfect timing causes the entire audience to laugh together constantly while Carlsons
constant use of the fourth wall makes all of his jokes a shared experience.
Three main things lend themselves to the modern setting: costuming, set design and
music. All three have varying degrees of effectiveness. The scenic designer, Dane Laffrey, does a

Adia Keene
Red Group
10/10/16
brilliant job of taking a classy design and modernizing it. The red carpets and pillars may be
reminiscent of an earlier time, but it is understandable considering that the families are very
wealthy. The party scene in the beginning shows just how easily the set can be transformed. With
somewhat unexpected flashing strobe lights and balloons tossed around the stage, it is hardly
recognizable from a minute before. It must be noted that twice during the October 2nd
performance Romeo seemed to improvise carrying out balloons that lingered on the stage after
that scene.
The costumes, on the other hand, have a range in quality.The best dressed character is
Mercutio. While holo suits, sunglasses and gelled hair arent really a mainstream style, they seem
to characterize Mercutio before he begins to speak. His appearance and personality corroborate
to bring a new take on a character played by many actors in many different productions over the
years. One of the worst costumes belongs to Romeo. While the costume designer, Kaye Voyce,
may have had her reasons, Romeos costume is bland and he only wears one outfit for the
majority of the show. Other than when he is wearing a coat, he dons a t-shirt and skinny jeans.
His friends each make at least one costume change during the show and each clearly has a style.
The only truly unenjoyable part of the performance is the music. Though no one attends
Romeo and Juliet to hear brilliant music scores, the audience doesnt expect odd techno and
electronic music either. Perhaps it was an attempt by sound designer, Daniel Kluger, to
emphasize the modern element of the play, but it was a bit overdone and almost makes the play
seem dated.
Someone who simply must be credited for his work in Romeo and Juliet is the fight
choreographer, David Leong. Though many will argue that the play is centered around love, the
amount of violence inspired by the rivalry that drives the play cannot be ignored. Considering

Adia Keene
Red Group
10/10/16
that using swords would be odd given the setting, knives are the route taken. The choreography
is fun and exciting, though the tension can be clearly felt by all those in the audience. Something
else that must be noted is the director, Alan Pauls, approach with guns. Though the weapons are
certainly common today, Paul makes sure to only let a shot ring out at a point when it is most
crucial. Though no one dies by a bullet, when a gun is shot, it is at a climactic moment influential
to the plot.
Romeo and Juliet may not have been perfect, but it was an interesting modern
interpretation of a classic play that is often referred to as a masterpiece. From great acting to
brilliant scenery, it was truly a beautiful performance that brings new life to a well-known tale.