Diana Wortham Theatre is pleased to announce the highly anticipated return of New York- and London-based Aquila Theatre Company.
The Mainstage Series favorite, will present a re-imagined and invigorating staging of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 8 p.m.
While the classic tale of two star-crossed lovers is arguably one of the most familiar of all of the Bard’s plays, Aquila’s striking and moving adaption of Romeo and Juliet takes the viewer’s breath away with a few special twists, thanks to the innovative direction of artistic director, Desiree Sanchez.
The timeless words and the story remain the same, but instead of focusing purely on the relationship of Juliet and her Romeo, Sanchez has altered the play with miniscule tweaks designed to highlight the interactions and nuances between Lady Capulet and her rebellious daughter.
Rather than let the parental role be split between Juliet’s mother and father, Sanchez is bold enough to eliminate the paternal Capulet character altogether, allowing Lady Capulet to speak her husband’s lines as well, including the infamously intense altercation between parent and child that ultimately comes to blows.
Symbolizing the mother-daughter connection, a 30-foot-long gown links the two ladies as they navigate the treacherous waters of arranged marriages, teenage rebellion, and all that befalls this famous household.
A highly physical performance, the company utilizes costumes that seem more fit for a ballet than a play, enabling quick, precise movements in scenes of sword fights and confrontation. Taking from the performance style that Shakespeare and his players would normally have adopted for the stage, Sanchez and the crew behind this production have reincorporated the physically challenging elements that often get subdued in modern Shakespearean shows, the energy that would be used to rile up the crowds from the balconies to the standing room by the stage.
Students and adults alike may have seen versions of Romeo and Juliet in the past, but never like this telling by Aquila Theatre – a production not to be missed.
If You Go: The Aquila Theatre company presents William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 8 p.m. at the Diana Wortham Theatre. To obtain more information or to purchase tickets, call the theatre’s box office at (828) 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com