All-female cast takes on modern-day 'Romeo and Juliet'

Posted October 27, 2009 11:00 pm

By Scott C. Morgan

Janus Theatre Company's all-female production of "Romeo and Juliet" is sure to raise a few eyebrows. Just seeing two women embracing in the title roles might make some people assume that Janus is trying to turn Shakespeare's classic romantic tragedy into some kind of lesbian drama.

But that's not the intent of Janus director and adapter Sean Hargadon. Janus' all-female "Romeo and Juliet" was borne out of logistical and artistic practicalities.

Hargadon admits that far more women than men auditioned for Janus' production. In light of that, Hargadon decided that casting the play entirely of one gender was a logical rethinking of historical Shakespearean performance practice when only men were allowed to appear on stages in Elizabethan England.

It's also a nice touch of gender parity, especially since some modern companies occasionally cast all men for Shakespeare. (In the past five years, two European all-male productions of "Twelfth Night" toured to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.) And looking over the cast listings of Shakespeare plays, you'll notice that most don't have more than four female characters.

There's a lot of great work in Janus' sleek and streamlined "Romeo and Juliet." But there are nagging elements that make you feel that the production isn't fully living up to its artistic or theatrical potential.

Hargadon resets "Romeo and Juliet" in the modern day. The sparring Montague and Capulet clans dress largely in fashionable blacks and grays (courtesy of costumer Kate Collins), giving the suggestion that they're rival mafia families given to occasional violent knife fights (laid out well by fight choreographer John Tovar).

Things are kept simple scenically, with only a few black tables and an elevated platform for Juliet's balcony. This sparseness allows the performers to shine as they deliver the Bard's glorious (if heavily edited) dialogue (lighting designer Andy Murshel helps to illuminate things symbolically with extra reds whenever a character is killed).

If the look is stark and defined, the acting turns out to be more of a mixed bag.

As Romeo, Jen Short gets the love-struck young man down right, complete with boyish enthusiasm and cropped hair. Short is convincing as Romeo first pines for the chaste Rosaline before he catches sight of Audrey Flegel's Juliet at a Capulet family dance rave.

Flegel isn't quite as effective in displaying Juliet's initial naiveté, but is much more comfortable at showing her in crisis mode and contemplating life-and-death decisions (particularly with the deathly sleep potion).

Playing nicely against Flegel is Patricia True's endearing Nurse. True brightens up every scene she's in as a fashionably worldly-wise woman who loves Juliet as much as her designer labels.

The rest of the cast doesn't show as much depth in their roles, and a good many don't make for convincing men (except perhaps Catie Early as the fiery Tybalt). It's hard to visually buy the women as men, particularly if they're not willing to sacrifice their long ponytail tresses or to bind their apparent breasts.

Hargadon's doubling up of the actors in multiple roles also has mixed results. Lori Holm shows an effective range between her drug junkie take on the Apothecary and the magisterial Prince Escalus. Less effective is Angela Bend's doubling as Romeo's ribald friend Mercutio and the eager-to-marry Paris (largely because they look too much alike).

Hargadon's editing of the text is also choppy at times (particularly the opening fight which unexpectedly halts before the Prince's appearance is divided up into a second scene).

But what makes Janus Theatre's modern and all-female take on "Romeo and Juliet" feel a bit like a missed opportunity is Hargadon's sidestepping of current gender politics and issues of sexual orientation. Since the show already changed with an all-female cast and modern setting, would having Diane McFarlin play Friar Lawrence as a woman be that much of a stretch if they switched religions from Catholic to Episcopalian?

At the very least, Janus Theatre should be commended for being daring enough to produce a Shakespearean classic with such nontraditional approaches. It's just things could have been explored even further than they are here.

Romeo (Jen Short) and Juliet (Audrey Flegel) fall in love despite their warring families in Janus Theatre Company's all-female production of "Romeo and Juliet."

"Romeo and Juliet" Two and a half stars Location: Janus Theatre Company at Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin, (847) 841-1713 or janustheatre.wordpress.com Showtimes: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 8 Running time: One hour and 55 minutes with intermission Tickets: $15 Parking: Nearby garages and street parking Rating: For general audiences (though younger kids might be scared by murder and suicide)

Article Comments

Article Categories
Communities Elgin Entertainment Lifestyle Performing Arts Theater

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.