William Shakespeare’s tale of young love and warring families continues to speak to today’s times, more than 400 years after its debut, according to the directors and actors of two productions of “Romeo and Juliet.”

Redhouse Arts Center and Syracuse University’s Department of Drama are both putting on productions of the Shakespearean tragedy. Redhouse’s production previews on Feb. 13 and runs through Feb. 23 at Redhouse. SU Drama’s production previews on Feb. 14 and runs through Feb. 22 at the Archbold Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex.

The directors of each production said that they did not know about the other theater’s choice to put on “Romeo and Juliet” when their season lineups were chosen. Melissa Rain Anderson, the director of Redhouse’s production, said the overlap may have occurred because the topics in “Romeo and Juliet” are particularly relevant right now.

While the two productions are based on the classic love story, each has a very different theme. The Redhouse production has a dystopian setting, and SU Drama’s story is set in the present day.

Thom Miller, the director of the SU Drama production, also said that the themes of the play are especially pertinent today, when divisive language is frequently used in social media posts and television programs.

“I think now is a really important time to look at what divisive language or what a community divided does to itself and how an inability to listen can really tear a community down,” Miller said.

Noah Plomgren and Grace Bydalek rehearse their roles as Romeo and Juliet in Redhouse’s dystopian production, which is set in a world at the brink of devastation. Sarah Lee | Assistant Photo Editor

Redhouse’s production takes place in a world on the brink of devastation. Anderson described the setting as “pre-apocalyptic.” She said that there is only a slight amount of hope for humanity in the play. Characters carry weapons and brawl in the streets despite a decree that they will be killed for doing so.

“The seedling or this bud of love, amidst this sort of rubble of the world, is really sort of poetic. And they also have to fight to try to keep that love alive,” Anderson said of the love story that develops between Romeo and Juliet in the midst of the chaos.

Grace Bydalek, who plays Juliet in the Redhouse production, said that the apocalyptic twist adds stakes to the situation in the play and makes Romeo and Juliet’s relationship even more precious. Landon Tate Boyle, who plays Benvolio, added that he thinks audiences will be able to connect with the dystopian more than they would with a traditional 1500s Italy setting.

SU Drama’s production is set in modern times, with one caveat: The play cuts out access to technology, which could have prevented the miscommunication that results in the death of Romeo and Juliet.

Since the production has a contemporary setting, many of the costumes feature everyday articles of clothing such as jeans, sweats and tank tops, said Pauline Pauwels, who plays Lady Capulet. But the costumes for the scene at the ball include heightened and exciting outfits inspired by The Capitol from “The Hunger Games” and Lady Gaga.

Clara Napolitano (right) plays Juliet in SU Drama’s production, and Pauline Pauwels (left) plays Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother. SU Drama’s production is set in current times, and many of the costumes feature contemporary styles of clothing. Hannah Ly | Staff Photographer

Miller explored the way people showcase money to show the distinction between the two warring families, the Capulets and Montagues. The production distinguishes between the members of the two families through the style of clothing they wear, showcasing high fashion versus urban fashion, Miller said.

In both productions, Mercutio is played by a woman. Both Anderson and Miller said that casting a woman in this role makes sense with the text. Megan Wilcox, who plays Mercutio in the SU Drama production, said that her character is aggressive, raunchy and grotesque — “everything that a girl isn’t supposed to be.” Many of Mercutio’s lines are very sexual and are liberating when performed by a woman, she said.

“When said by a girl, it’s like something has to have happened emotionally that is causing her to say these things and to own that sexuality in a certain way,” Wilcox said.

In the SU Drama production, Romeo is also played by a woman. Although Miller knew from the start that he wanted to cast Mercutio as a woman, it wasn’t until he saw Isabel Rodriguez’s audition that he decided to do the same with Romeo.

Pauwels said that the central themes of “Romeo and Juliet” remain in SU Drama’s contemporary adaptation.

“The main themes of love and what a family looks like and what hatred can do to a family and to love I think are still really relevant to today,” Pauwels said. “And by putting it in a modern setting, it shows how that has stayed the same kind of through history.”

Published on February 13, 2020 at 1:23 am

Contact Mandy: ackrayna@syr.edu | @MandyKraynak