Star-crossed lovers

B.J. White makes no secret of his feelings for William Shakespeare.

"I love Shakespeare and I think it's so cool to be able to do," White said.

It's not exactly what you'd expect to hear from a high school junior.

But after all White, a junior at Neuqua Valley High School, is preparing for his turn at one of drama's most coveted roles, Romeo.

The school cast and crew will present three public performances of "Romeo and Juliet" this weekend.

The story centers on two young lovers' attempts to be together despite the violent feud between their families.

White was cast in last year's production of "Les Miserables" at Neuqua and had some acting experience in Kansas City, where he attended middle school.

The only way to deliver Shakespeare's lines, White said, is to make a sincere effort to understand them.

He and several other principal actors began rehearsing last spring, giving students time to absorb the cadence and syntax Shakespeare used.

"There would be some times when I asked a teacher, 'What does this mean?' " he said. "Now I can kind of look at it and I can kind of understand it."

In fact, understanding has morphed into appreciation.

"The lines are just so poetic. People say it's not relevant to today … (but) you can see how to relate to it. It's beautiful," White said.

Though known as a tragic love story with a brutal ending, White said "Romeo and Juliet," like many of Shakespeare's works, actually contains a touch of levity, too.

"He wrote these tragedies, but he wrote comedies as well," White said. "The first half is lighthearted, with parties and dancing. The second half is when tragedy strikes."

While scenes of love and death may wring the most emotion from the audience, battle scenes keep the action moving.

"My approach to directing the play is to really make Shakespeare appeal to high school audiences," said English teacher Brigid Tileston, the play's director. "We have a lot of movement in the piece."

To make the many battle scenes more believable, she brought in a professional fencing instructor to teach 15 cast members how to safely, but convincingly, stage sword combat scenes.

The overall look of the show was a high priority, she said.

"We've tried to do a lot with the costumes and the set," Tileston said. "It's going to be visually stunning."

Before the public can see the show, the play will be performed twice for Neuqua students, all or most of whom will have read the play as part of their curriculum, Tileston said.

"It deals with issues kids deal with today," she said.

If you go

What: "Romeo and Juliet" staged by Neuqua Valley High School

When: 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday

Where: Neuqua Valley High School auditorium, 2360 95th St., Naperville

Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 for students

Info: (630) 428-6000 or nvhs.ipsd.org