As of this week, I've seen
Romeo and Juliet nine times in
some form or
other (not counting
West Side Story, its most successful adaptation). Not because I particularly love
Romeo and Juliet (although I still remember a few lines I memorized in high school English class many years ago). But because it's done a lot (
the Guthrie is opening their season with it this fall). So why do it again? Why see it again? Romeo and Juliet still fall in love at first sight. Romeo still kills Tybalt. Romeo and Juliet still react to his banishment with despair rather than just running away together. And the friar's stupid messenger still fails to deliver the message, resulting in the senseless death of both of these teenagers. But there's a reason it's done so often and has inspired so many adaptations (the latest being
James Corden and Emily Blunt's musical version). It's a story of love, crazy stupid irrational love, in the face of hate and violence.
Mission Theatre Company promises a
Romeo and Juliet like you've never seen before. And they deliver, with an energetic and physical adaptation that builds from romantic comedy to tragedy over two intense hours with no intermission.
