Romeo and Juliet, the most well-known love story of all time, comes once again to the Balch Arena Theater. However, this time it will not be the typical version to which our society has become so accustomed. Nor will the production echo 1996's popular Baz Luhrmann film: Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo will not fall into a pool while climbing to meet Claire Danes's Juliet. It will be a wholly classical production.
"I have not set it in modern dress or in a new environment. It will be performed in the 15th century in Verona as written," states faculty director Anthony Cornish. Known simply as Tony to all drama students, Cornish is currently the artist-in-residence for the Drama Department. However, this will most likely be his final production at Tufts. After this year, Cornish will be returning to his home in England.
"I have been pushed by other members of the department to do this show for some time now. Interestingly it was not my first choice," laughs Cornish. Shakespeare's plays may be foreign to some, but they are certainly a great part of Cornish's career: he has directed over 15. This production of Romeo and Juliet, Cornish's third production of the play, will mark his 30th show altogether. Interestingly, he has modernized some of his shows including last year's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, but he has never modernized Romeo and Juliet.
"It is interesting to see how the theater has developed," Cornish says. Only five years ago he was directing Stagedoor with 26 female roles - only because there were very few males involved in the department. One of the main reasons that Cornish chose to keep this show set in the 15th century is because it makes the sword fights more believable.
"Fighting plays such a large and important part in the play. It is in all the language and the imagery of the dialogue. You cannot do without it," he says. "The sword comes across to an audience as a much more threatening weapon, and it is not one that we use today."
All of the sword fights will take place with the help and choreography of graduate student Kyna Hamill, a Canadian native trained in stage combat. This production will feature the talents of sophomore Nicole Frattaroli as Juliet, and freshman David Greene as Romeo.
"It is fairly rare that a freshman is cast in a lead role, however [he] is closest to the age of the characters. And I always do cast freshmen in my shows." There will, in fact, be five other freshmen in the show in addition to Greene. "I am very pleased with the cast," Cornish says.
Romeo and Juliet will be performed in late October and early November. Until then, an immense amount of work and preparation will go into the show. General rehearsals run four hours every weekday. That does not even include the additional time that the actors, director, stage managers, technical directors, and others involved in the show will have to put in as the opening date of the show approaches.
Thanks to Cornish, his cast, and crew, Tufts has a chance to see this legendary show the way it may have been performed in Shakespeare's day.
