Teen Angst Hasn't Changed Much in 500 Years

Watching the actors of Footlighters Theater Youth Shakespeare present Romeo and Juliet I couldn't help but wonder if this is how reality TV would have looked in the 1590's (had there been MTV).

Not much about teen love, and the angst that comes with it, has changed since Shakespeare penned Romeo and Juliet at the end of the 16th Century. Well ok, now it's dealers instead of an Apothecary and guns instead of swords. So who better to portray the characters than teenagers?

Footlighters deserves a round of applause for offering teen actors a chance to take on Shakespeare. It's no easy task for actors of any experience and talent level.  The Old English is really a different language for most adults, let alone teens. So not only did the young actors have to learn how to portray extreme emotions and subtle nuance, they have to do it with an unfamiliar, if not new vocabulary.  The entire company deserves a round of applause for taking on the challenge.

Footlighters veteran Director Kirk Paul helms this production with creative staging that brings the actors down into the audience and also uses the stage in the "intimate" historic former church building.

It brings the action "up close and personal" for the audience which I thought worked well.  It also presents some challenges for the young actors who by design have their backs to at least part of the audience for much of the action. I'm guessing difficulties with being heard and remembering a few lines here and there could be chalked up to opening night jitters. It takes guts for actors of any age to take on Shakespeare and as the play moved forward the actors settled in a little.

When Shakespeare was around only boys and men played on the stage. But it is the girls who rule in this production. 

Among the many strong performances, Ruth Wellin sets the bar high for women playing men talking about the foibles of falling for women. While Romeo and Juliet is considered a tragedy there is some comic relief. Wellin as Mercutio showed one of the deepest understandings of the material with a comic flare and physicality (that runs a just little to the north of PG-13) that is worth the very reasonable $5 price of admission.

in Footlighters spring production of Treasure Island showed she is just at home playing a teenage romantic heroine as playing a teenage boy consorting in the company of pirates.

Amy Glasthal is a delight to watch as the nurse who has literally raised and nursed Juliet from infancy to 14. As the oft-put-upon go between for Romeo and Juliet the Nurse is also closer to Juliet than the Capulet parents.  Glasthal has a commanding understanding of the full range of emotions required of the role.

If you go:

Community theater fans (I include myself in their ranks) will appreciate the education and effort that is evident in every scene of this production. Shakespeare is a big stretch for most actors and is clear this company has worked hard. They deserve to be supported by the audience (as they were on opening night Friday).

Parents, families, and friends of the cast members will naturally enjoy this show. Even a proud parent who admitted "I hate Shakespeare" (I'll never tell who) was among those applauding the loudest. 

If you think it might be a good way to introduce a younger theater-goer to Shakespeare I would suggest fully discussing the plot and characters with your under 14 audience member in advance.  If you or your student struggle with the language of Shakespeare this production probably won't make it as clear as you might hope from seeing the words brought to life on stage. Understanding the plot and basic characters in advance will make for a much more enjoyable experience, especially for younger audience members.

Romeo and Juliet runs Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. this weekend and next Thursday-Friday (August 9,10,11) at 8pm. Click here for a link to the theater's website with full ticket information.