Susan's Blog » Romeo and Juliet in mashed-up times

Am I the only one feeling the stress of our dichotomized times? My daily dose of Morning Joe has me worried about the disappearing middle class. My Friends at Fox catapult me back into pre—Obama fretting about the intense and dysfunctional political partisanship in this country. At a time when our world is increasingly and refreshingly mashed-up, polarized rhetoric runs rampant. Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh, same sex marriage, and Prop 8 are just a few of the words heard in daily rants.

And, it’s not just our politics. Just this week we learned that London has banned “smooching” in the Tube, their Subway System, yet globally, mashed-up romance and life abounds. Television (Tila Tequila), film (Love Actually), music (Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl"; Taylor Swift's Romeo and Juliet) and theatre are replete with contemporary examples of mashed-up culture. It's fascinating that Shakespeare's 400 year old tragedy of forbidden romance has seen an artistic resurgence lately. Last year I saw two productions of Romeo and Juliet. The first was at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival outside Toronto, Canada. Tony award winner, Des McAnuff, directed a talented cast embodying myriad ethnicities and skin colors worthy of the vibrant rainbow of life. The mash-up was even more innovative in the blending of 21st Century vernacular and costuming with that of the Elizabethan original. One reviewer referred to the production as high art meets pop culture.

Two months later, friends Mike Klein and Joan Fabry invited us to a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in the Lansburgh Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C. Uber-talented Artistic Director, David Muse, inspired by the Elizabethan tradition of all-male casts, directed this work the way he felt Shakespeare would have, with all roles played by men. Gifted Julliard graduate, James Davis, created a believable, and vibrant Juliet with a pleasing alto voice. While one critic questioned whether the Company’s artistry and expertise was showcased at the expense of “the glory of a great play,” I appreciated the stimulating glimpse into the Elizabethan world of all-male casts and glorious mash-up of our times.

Romeo and Juliet, produced by Shakespeare Theatre