Quill Theatre kicks off its 20th Annual Richmond Shakespeare Festival at Agecroft Hall with a true classic, Romeo and Juliet. Before you disregard the possibility of seeing one of the most popular romances of the Bard, consider the opportunity to re-learn or discover new plot points, romantic monologues, and alternative perspectives within this production.
Directed by James Ricks, newly announced artistic director for Quill Theatre, this production has had some practice already since it premiered earlier this year at the Leslie Cheek Theatre at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. However, audiences who saw the previous production are urged to attend this new production since a portion of the cast is new and can provide an alternate point of view; the stage at the VMFA is a classic proscenium, with the audience on one side of the stage and the actors facing them. At Agecroft, the audience surrounds the actors on three sides of the stage, known as a thrust stage.
“Bringing the show to Agecroft Hall has been thrilling simply because of the beauty of the space,” said Ricks. Along with a more up-close-and-personal feel to the stage, audiences can appreciate the outdoor setting, watching the performance under the Richmond summer skies, surrounded by Agecroft’s carefully attended gardens and grounds.
For those that did not get the chance to see the previous production, but are still hesitant to see Shakespeare’s wildly popular romance, rest assured this production will provide a fresh take. The amount of professionalism and talent within this cast “translates” the complicated language of Shakespeare in a very palatable way. “The language is very accessible in a fresher way than it might have been if you were to have watched it in high school,” said Liz Earnest, who is reprising her role as Juliet. “It feels very much like a play for people that don’t even like Shakespeare.”
Photo by Aaron Sutten
In case you need a brief refresher, Romeo and Juliet thrusts its audience in the middle of a bitter feud between two families, the Capulets, and the Montagues. A teenager from each family falls in love with the other in a classic star-crossed lovers fashion, amplifying the feud between their families. With the help of deceit, potions, and misplaced letters, the lovers find themselves on the same deathbed with their families left to pick up the pieces. Sounds familiar, right?
“I think the biggest challenge is to approach the work in such a way that allows us to tell a story that most people already know, or think they know,” said Ricks. “How do we overcome expectation and tell the story as though it has never been told before?” Although the challenge ahead lies in the execution of both director and cast, Ricks is confident in his talented cast. “They should come to see this particular cast. There is so much talent on this stage it’s incredible. We also have two Juliets!”
Claire Wittman, an actor from Staunton/Mary Baldwin’s Shakespeare scene, is filling in the role of Juliet for the opening weekend, with Liz Earnest completing the run the following weekends. The role of Romeo is completely new from the previous production, this time played by local Richmond talent Tyler Stevens.
If you’re still not sold on the show, perhaps highlighting the more visual aspects of it will help you aboard the Romeo and Juliet boat. “If you’re a visual person, the costumes that we’ve got are pretty great,” said Earnest. Costumes help visualize the divide between the two families, but also include stunning detail, hidden pockets for swords and daggers, and quite visually stunning. “Alongside that, the fights that we’ve got in this play are really stellar. I wish I got to do one. They really kind of steal the show. They’re pretty incredible.” Almost immediately at the top of the show, a fight breaks out, starting the show off on an energetic note.
Photo by Aaron Sutten
But perhaps the most compelling feature of the entire show is its central message. “This is a show that has stood the test of time for so long now because of its messages of the importance of forgiveness and the importance of family and understanding,” said Earnest. Because it revolves around two youth who are questioning the status quo, laws, rules, and customs of their time, one can’t help but think of the youth leading today’s multiple movements. “Young people questioning the constraints, traditions, and laws placed on them by the older generation is a big part of this play, making it difficult to not draw a parallel between Shakespeare’s world and ours,” said Ricks. “What’s interesting is that now, perhaps more than ever, the youth of the country have more power than they ever have. In a democratic political framework, they are able to rally towards their inevitable voting power. It’s a play unto itself. Hopefully, one that has a happier ending.”
Romeo and Juliet opens at Agecroft Hall this Fri., June 1, and runs through June 24. Tickets can be found here at the Quill Theatre website.
