A scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet’on stage at LALT through Sept. 17, with 7:30 p.m. showings Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16, and 2 p.m. matinees today and Sept. 17. Photo by Thomas Graves
Review by KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Is there a more popular, well-known tale of love and tragedy than “Romeo and Juliet”? The play is more than 400 years old and still being performed on stages, adapted as movies and studied in high school English classes.
In fact, the Los Alamos Little Theater (LALT) opened its production of William Shakespeare’s play this weekend. Co-directed by Kelly Dolejsi and Eric Björklund and starring Jack Williams and Keira Fichtl as the star-crossed lovers, the local community theater brings this tale to life once again.
With so many productions of Romeo and Juliet, this story has been viewed in a million different ways. Verona and its citizens have been depicted in the 16th century, in the 1990s and everywhere in between. The Los Alamos Little Theater returns to how it would have been preformed in Shakespeare’s time – with minimal sets and 16th century-inspired costumes as well as Elizbethan-era music. And I loved it!
I never performed a Shakespeare play but I recited Shylock’s soliloquy in the “Merchant of Venice” to my own high school English class, which was decades ago, but I still vividly recall how hard it is to express and remember all of Shakespeare’s dialogue so I tip my hat to anyone who can do it. The cast does an incredible job. But I have to give special kudos to Williams and Fichtl, who not only remember all their lines, unlike me in my English class, but effectively convey Romeo’s and Juliet’s innocence, naïveté and willingness to be swept away by their emotions as only young people do.
I also want to give special mention to Collin McDowell, who portrays Mercutio. Mercutio’s swagger and clever banter makes him my favorite character in the play and McDowell does not disappoint. Tomás Farish as Lord Capulet also deserves a big shoutout. He rocked.
Another standout in the play are the costumes, which were created by Lisa-Jo Dunham, Katy Korkos, Pam Justice and Mary Sue Hansen. The Capulets’ sky blue ensembles, the Montagues’ blood red outfits are beautiful and it is obvious from the capes the men wear to the billowing sleeves of the ladies’ dresses that the wardrobe team did not ignore any detail to ensure the costumes looked authentic to the time period. However, perhaps the most clever are the royal purple outfits the two leads wear – the colors of the two houses mixed together as a symbol of unity.
The drama, the romance and terrible tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet” have made it such a staple in our culture. We all seem to be enamored by this very sad tale. Watching LALT’s production, I remembered why. It’s been said time and time again, by critics and other stories told in all forms of media, that humans cling to hope. As a result, these tragedies are told and retold because we are hopeful that during this next retelling, things will work out. I certainly felt that way watching Friday’s opening night performance. Maybe this time Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo about Juliet will arrive in time, maybe Juliet will wake up before Romeo takes the poison, maybe Tybalt will just zip it when he sees Romeo with his Montague friends. To my regret, that didn’t happen.
So, tell the story again, LALT. Furthermore, to the public, go see the local production of “Romeo and Juliet” and keep that hope alive that this time the lovers will endure.
LALT’s Romeo and Juliet runs through Sept. 17, with 7:30 p.m. showings Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16, and 2 p.m. matinees today and Sept. 17.
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/romeo-and-juliet-tickets-707019603667.