Shakespeare's R&J

On FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014, Fabrefaction Theatre Conservatory (FTC) opens what The New York Times calls a "hot-blooded adaptation of Romeo and Juliet" - Shakespeare's R&J by Joe Calarco - just in time for Valentine's Day!  

Shakespeare’s
R&J is the story of four young prep school students, tired of going through
the usual drill of conjugating Latin and other tedious school routines, decide to vary their very governed lives.  After school, one breaks out a copy of William Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET and they all take turns reading the play aloud.  The Bard's words and the story itself are thrilling to the the boys and they become swept away, enmeshed in the emotion so much so that they break school rules in order to continue their readings.  The rigidity of their lives begin to parallel the lives of the characters in the play: roles in the family, roles in society and the roles played by men and women soon seem to make all the sense in the world, and then, suddenly, they seem to make no sense at all.  Although they'd been taking turns playing all the parts, two eventually emerge playing Romeo and Juliet exclusively, bringing a whole new dimension to the proceedings.  Perceptions and understanding are turned upside down as the fun of play acting turns serious and the words and meanings begin to hit home and universal truths emerge.

The show runS Thursday through Sunday at the 156-seat West Midtown theatre.  Shakespeare's R&J contains language that is not suitable for all ages.  Our recommendation is for audiences ages 13 and up.

For tickets, please visit www.FABREFACTION.org. 

DIRECTOR: BRIAN CLOWDUS

PHOTO CREDIT: BREEANNE CLOWDUS