Theater puts modern twist on 'Romeo and Juliet'

October 1, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 3)
Article by Annie Pettit

four people on stage, one lying on floor during scene in Romeo and Juliet

Cast members rehearse a scene from 'Romeo and Juliet.' Performances begin October 4 as part of the annual Shakespeare Festival.

Grand Valley’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will put a contemporary twist on the Shakespearean classic, “Romeo and Juliet,” as part of the annual Shakespeare Festival.

The performances are October 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m., and October 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. All shows are at the Haas Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are available online.

It's the directorial debut for Patrick Poole, adjunct theater faculty member. Poole said one striking difference for this production is its setting in 1930s Italy, rather than in the 14th century.

“Our setting is a little closer to us than in Shakespeare’s time,” Poole said, explaining that the primary reason for this change is to make the classic story of Romeo and Juliet more digestible for a modern audience.

Another change made by Poole was to reduce the play from five acts to three. “I really had to study the lines, and that gave me a greater appreciation of what Shakespeare wrote,” Poole said of the concise retelling.

Sydney Hartmann, a senior majoring in theater, and hospitality and tourism management, plays Mercutio in this production. Hartmann described Romeo's best friend and likened it to what the audience will discover about the cast.

“Mercutio is this whirlwind of energy and that’s what I love about him,” Hartmann said. "It's the same energy that every cast member brings; everybody has a powerhouse moment.”