“Romeo and Juliet” is a timeless Shakespeare classic. Many productions of the show have been staged in different time periods, while maintaining the same Shakespearean language.
However, with social media, cyber bullying, modern music and dance thrown into the mix, Mainstage Center for the Arts’ production of “Romeo and Juliet” puts a 21st century twist on the classic play.
Directed by Chris Melohn, this contemporary production of “Romeo and Juliet” is on stage from Feb. 6 through 15 at Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theatre. This retelling enables teens and young adults to connect with Shakespeare on a whole new level.
The production includes some new music and dance numbers, updated fight scenes and several new actors, including Haddonfield resident Kate Orlando, who portrayed a dancer last year and returns as Lady Capulet.
Orlando has been performing since she was 3. She was asked to be a part of this production of “Romeo and Juliet” by Melohn when she worked with him on a previous project, “Cats.” When she heard Melohn’s idea to set the show in modern times, it sparked her interest.
“I love working with Chris. He is wonderful, professional and talented, and he had this great idea. It sounded like a great time,” Orlando said.
Set in 2015 Philadelphia, the feud between the families is enflamed by comments posted on social media sites. As the tension builds, teenagers Romeo (Taylor Darden of Philadelphia) and Juliet (Katie Stahl of Lewistown, Pa.) meet and fall in love at first sight. Juliet’s parents, the Capulets (Curt Foy of Atco and Orlando) intend for Juliet to marry Paris, not Romeo, a member of the Montague family. However, the young couple marries in secret, hoping for reconciliation between their families. When short tempers lead to deadly consequences, the young lovers find themselves alone and on the run, facing impossible odds and making desperate decisions.
This year, Orlando was nervous to be cast as Lady Capulet since she hasn’t had a large acting role since college, however she has really taken up the challenge and enjoyed it.
“In this production, Lady Capulet is younger than the original. She’s Lord Capulet’s third wife, which makes for a different relationship. It makes the situation even more intense. It’s a fun part that I’m enjoying,” Orlando said.
Orlando said the play incorporates many modern elements that are relevant today. Some include social media elements up on screens, hip-hop dances, school shootings and suicides. Orlando said these elements, paired with the Shakespearean language, help the children of today understand the play and really take it in that much more.
“This production brings in all of the issues of today, making it that much more relevant, and the kids really understand it better. It makes a bigger impact,” Orlando said. “It is so relatable. If ‘Romeo and Juliet’ were to happen now, this is how it would go down.”
The show is dance heavy, incorporating popular music of today. With the music and dancing, the actors are able to set the tone of the scene, which makes it a much more different “Romeo and Juliet” than the audience might expect.
Orlando’s favorite part of the show is the wedding night scene, where Romeo and Juliet are accompanied by two other couples after Tybalt is killed. One couple, which Orlando is a part of, represents the love between Romeo and Juliet, while the other couple represents the anger and confusion between them. Both couples dance in dissension as Romeo and Juliet work out how they feel about Tybalt’s death and their love. Eventually, they move in unison as Romeo and Juliet accept one another in their marriage.
“It is a very cool moment that is not in the play and I think it adds so much emotion to what is happening. It’s one of the big points of interest for the students. I think it is very powerful and it is fun,” Orlando said.
Orlando would like audience members to take away the timelessness of the show, seeing Shakespeare in a modern setting.
“It stays the same through time. These things are relevant. Even after 100 years, people who aren’t supposed to be together still fall in love, there are still prejudices, there is still pride, and none of that changes through time. This is timeless,” Orlando said.
“Romeo and Juliet” runs Feb. 6, 7, 13, and 14, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 8 and 15, 2 p.m. in the newly-renovated, fully-accessible Dennis Flyer Theatre at Camden County College in Blackwood. For tickets, visit www.mainstage.org, or call (855) 936–2467, ext. 3.
