To Old Rochester Regional High School senior Aidan Silk, the iconic Romeo from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” was nothing more than a 14th Century frat boy. Silk and other ORR theater students all have a unique perspective on their characters and will make them accessible to a modern audience.
They will take the stage November 16-19 to put a comedic twist on the classic love story. All shows begin at 7:00 pm with the exception of the 2:00 pm matinee on Sunday, November 19.
Director Maxx Domingos said this is her fifth show, and the group decided to tackle a tragedy instead of the usual comedy. The show, according to a written release, will still deal with heavy topics such as suicide and stick to the original, tragic plot, but it will play up the comedic moments and will be condensed.
“We are exaggerating the pieces of comedy in it a little bit,” Domingos said. “We are adding their comedic talents into it.”
Before rehearsals began, the cast watched the 1996 Baz Luhrmann adaptation of the play. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo, uses modern settings, 1990s alternative rock background music and a comic character dressing in drag to the Capulet ball scene – often portrayed as serious.
While the cast probably will not go to those lengths, they all have embraced their characters and Luhrmann’s modern twist on them, according to Domingos.
“While (the Luhrmann version) is unconventional, it brings a little bit more of a modern point of view, and it is easier to connect with and is more accessible, especially for us doing Shakespeare at the high school level,” said senior Chloe Bean, who will play Lady Capulet.
“I was really excited to get (the part),” said Bean, an ORR actor for the last three years. “I think she is not only one of the big characters, but she has a lot of power over her daughter, which is fun to play.”
Senior Blaine Boulanger, who plays Capulet, commented on the 1996 version of the play and how his character appears “goofy” at times in 1996, with Paul Sorvino as Juliet’s hothead father. Boulanger said he is still excited to bring out some of Capulet’s negative emotions, which he considers more of a challenge to play.
Boulanger, along with Silk, is gracing the ORR stage for the first time. Boulanger says he has aspirations toward becoming an actor.
Silk said he was inspired by a Broadway performance of Romeo, and some of his phrasings come from that stage. Silk said he tried out for the parts of Friar Laurence and Mercutio, Romeo’s comedic friend who often tells suggestive jokes. He says he has now settled into this character.
“The fun parts are the ones filled with the most emotion, like when he gets angry at Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin),” Silk said. (Romeo) has been described as a 14th century frat boy, and we (the cast) all agree with it.”
Senior Reese Souza said she wanted the part of Juliet but didn’t know if it was achievable. “If you put your mind to it, anything is possible,” she said.
Souza said she derived inspiration from actor Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet in a classic movie adaptation directed and cowritten by Franco Zeffireli.
“She’s bouncing off the walls all over the place,” Souza said of her character. “She has that emotional maturity toward her, but in some ways she can be immature on how she lashes out at others.”
Other actors include: Cattarinha Nunes as Nurse, Calder Eaton as Mercutio, Jorge Carrillo as Benvolio and Tenley Lane as Tybalt.
According to a written release, the play would best be enjoyed by adults and younger patrons in Grades 5 and above, as the story contains topics of suicide, fighting and death.
This will be the fifth show for Domingos and fourth show for Assistant Director Sarah Whinnem.
Sound design will be by John Farrell.
By Jeffrey D. Wagner