A new adaptation of the beloved Shakespearean classic “Romeo and Juliet” has graced the American Repertory Theater stage in Cambridge.
Opening night was held at the Loeb Drama Center Aug. 31, starring “Outer Banks” actor Rudy Pankow as Romeo and Emilia Suárez as Juliet.
The original “Romeo and Juliet” tells the story of two star-crossed lovers who long to be together but cannot due to the “ancient grudge” of their two families. Ultimately, this grudge leads to death and despair; Juliet and Romeo are both dead, as are their respective cousins, Tybalt and Mercutio.
However, for this adaptation, Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus wanted to make it a story of love, rather than focus on death, and I think this was achieved beautifully.
One of the first things that stood out was the simple, sleek stage design. Throughout the play, the characters used a large wooden panel that broke down into smaller blocks to mimic Juliet’s bedroom window, Friar Lawrence’s cell and other famous landmarks in the play. The overall vibe of the stage reminded me a bit of the Amity faction in “Divergent,” with costumes of muted reds, yellows, blues and greens, highlighted against the wooden paneling.
The lighting came from a mixture of the actual stage lights and hand-held glowing orbs that lit up the stage almost like moonlight. It was never too bright or too dim, but always casting a dreamy haze over the stage.
While the set design and lighting complimented the story, the acting was what made it come alive. Initially, I was a bit worried about a celebrity casting of such an influential story (think Cameron Dallas in “Mean Girls”), but Pankow did an outstanding job of capturing the essence of Romeo.
This role was unlike anything that has been seen from Pankow. In “Outer Banks,” he plays JJ, a life of the party, reckless and sometimes brazen character who does not always think before he speaks. In this production, Pankow almost transformed into Romeo completely, embodying this young man who is consumed by love and exudes tenderness and romance.
Suárez did an outstanding job in the role of Juliet. This was the first time I had ever heard of or seen Suárez in a production before, so it was exciting to see her perform. She reminded me a lot of Rachel Zegler, and I think she was the perfect fit for the role. She made Juliet seem like more than just Romeo’s lover and gave more depth to the character overall. She was passionate, energetic and truly a light on stage.
The stand-out performance of the night definitely had to be Clay Singer as Mercutio. It may actually be one of my favorite performances by an actor onstage that I’ve ever seen. Singer was funny, passionate, edgy, raunchy and vivacious the entire time he was on stage, where his presence was impeccable. Singer struck the entire audience, making them laugh, cry and gasp with his clever remarks, dirty jokes, and antics.
One of my favorite parts of the entire production was the final scene, right after Romeo and Juliet met their end. The entire cast gathers onto the stage, which has now been transformed into the tomb of the Capulets. Mercutio and Tybalt are standing on either side of the stage, and Romeo and Juliet are on a raised platform in the middle of the tomb, surrounded by a bed of white flowers. Around them, their family members begin planting lush greenery on the place where the lovers both died.
In this moment, the audience could really see how Paulus meant to turn this tragic romance into one of pure love. While the grudge between the two families caused so much destruction, with the tragedy came the realization that peace is necessary, and the love between Romeo and Juliet sprouted even despite their families feud.
The ending of the production brought me and those around me to tears. It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful love story, and a reminder that true love does not end, even in death.
If you are interested in seeing this production, I highly recommend it. Performances end Oct. 6, and students with a valid ID are eligible for discounted tickets at the box office
