Juliet + Romeo

See it if you like new takes: R+J thru eyes of teenage girl. Youthful cast of 6 (4 w, 2 m) play all roles. In the round. No intermsn. Lacks emotion.

Don't see it if you want gr WS acting. Only Pisano shines (R&J disappoint). Commentary lost in last 1/3, was missed. Fun dancing. Study plot beforehand.

See it if you want a new take on the Shakespeare play set in contemporary dress with commentary by a young, first-time reader of the work.

Don't see it if you want the original play. It ran a bit long and the metal, folding chairs made for an uncomfortable evening.

See it if You’re a Shakespeare fan and you aren’t put off by reinterpretations. This is not a very strong production.

Don't see it if Your a traditionalist looking for Romeo and Juliet.

See it if you can’t get enough Romeo and Juliet and enjoy it in a small theatre round with modern costumes, minimal set, and a young cast and spin

Don't see it if you are bored with Romeo and Juliet, cannot understand Shakespearean English even with unambiguous actor tells, or prefer romsnce to raunch

Also Gratuitous running sophomoric commentary by a young adolescent adds nothing to audience understanding of the plot and is irritating to a Shakespeare enthusiast.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see great acting and the work of young director, producer, actor, Alyssa May Gold, who shows great, but yet unrealized potential

Don't see it if if you want to see a strong, young female protagonist staunch in her beliefs

Also We should all keep following Alyssa May Gold. She has a very creative mind and great potential. But here, as she did in Hitler's Tasters, she backs away from giving her protagonist(s) strong maintained feminist positions. Thus far, her female protagonists all turn out to be "victims". She needs to fully embrace the exciting feminist ideas at the base of her shows.... Read more Read less

See it if You like R&J enough to ignore uneven acting, unattractive modern costumes and minimal staging. Interesting ideas not fully realized.

Don't see it if You're expecting insights from the "teenage girl reading R&J for the first time". Relevant commentary at the start is basically dropped half

Also way through.

See it if You're up for a modern high school girl's understandable reactions and commentary as she reads R&J for the first time.

Don't see it if You like your Shakespeare straight and linear, with fewer cuts and a larger cast.

Also The power, durability and malleability of Shakespeare's work never cease to amaze, all the more when watching young actors as they find their way through the material, bringing fresh perspectives and POVs.

Director Gold's conceit here — the play as seen through the eyes of an upset high school girl finding herself in Romeo + Juliet as she reads it for the first time — works well for the first two thirds, her cuts and pace funny and effective, but fails as plot lines and banishèd’s collect, slowing all to a crawl. A tighter focus on the modern young girl would have helped. Still, the lovely set, lights and ambient music at start kept all pleasant, as did Lauren Pisano and Trace Pope’s work, in particular.... Read more Read less

See it if an accessible, energetic production of romeo and juliet with solid acting performed up close and personal sounds like fun

Don't see it if you expect more than a retelling of the story, like some backstory on the teenage girl or better commentary in some parts.

See it if you are interested in fresh takes on Shakespeare, you find teenage angst compelling

Don't see it if you mind walking up 4 flights of rickety stairs to see a show, you're expecting polish, you prefer your Shakespeare to be traditional

Also The conceit of this story is that a young teenage girl who is suffering from some kind of heartache (we never find out what it is) picks up a copy of R+J and reads through the whole thing. While I feel like this could have been interesting and effective, it never really pays off because the teenage girl framework never closes out on the other end. She finishes the play...and that's it. We never find out how reading R+J helped her, what her situation was or how it resolved. The entire framework, while entertaining, ended up being pointless.
That being said, the play is lots of fun. Set up in the round, the actors are very-close to the audience, so you always feel like you're right in the thick of the action. Other than Romeo, Juliet, and the teenage girl, all of the other actors in the cast play multiple roles which really allow them to shine. I was particularly impressed with Lauren Pisano, who played Mercutio and Capulet.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy a modern uptake on classical Shakepeare!

Don't see it if Unless you have a heavy outercoat and warm woolen mittens.

See it if you love seeing adaptations of shows which bring them to a new light

Don't see it if you dislike shakespeare

See it if You want a fresh take on Romeo & Juliet. Shakespeare productions can feel dense & dated & unrelatable but they’ve breathed new life into it.

Don't see it if u prefer classical Shakespeare productions & sets. This requires you to get into the mind of a teenage girl. Like Juliet is. Clever concept.

See it if you're eager for more stories told from women's perspectives, or have had your heart broken by a character, or are looking for fresh take

Don't see it if you're a Shakespeare purist, you are positive R&J is a love story, you like the status quo

See it if You know R&J (we all read it in high school, right?) and you love an energetic, wonderfully acted, funny and poignant take on the classic.

Don't see it if You've forgotten, or refuse to remember, what it was like to be a teenager.

Also Wow. I LOVED this production. The staging was so fresh, fun and clear. I felt as if I understood the play better than ever before. The performances were outstanding and I wasn't bored for a second - the time flew! Maddie, the teenage girl reading R&J, was so smart and funny, but never flippant - the stakes were always high. I loved watching the action on stage and I loved watching HER watch it. Maddie falls in love with Juliet as a kindred spirit and it is heartbreaking. Spoiler alert. Brava to all.... Read more Read less

See it if You like seeing new takes on established works, you read romeo and juliet in high school and yelled at the book, you enjoy theater

Don't see it if You prefer stricter, unimaginative interpretations

Also Having a teenage girl as the audience surrogate gave a wonderful new twist to the classical play. The way the set is transformed constantly is integrated seamlessly and executed flawlessly by the actors. The majority of them play multiple roles but through a combination of acting prowess and costuming there is never any confusion. At its core is the classic play, which the cast’s strong training and ability brings to wonderful life.... Read more Read less

See it if you love brilliant acting and directing, contemporary reimagining of classical text, creative storytelling, creation of a beautiful world

Don't see it if There's no reason to not see this excellent show!

See it if you enjoy modern re-framings of classics, strong ensemble acting, and an enchanting, immersive scenic design!

Don't see it if you are looking for fully adapted modern text, are a Shakespeare purist, or think R+J is a true love story.

See it if You’ve seen Romeo and Juliet a hundred times and want to hear it in a whole new way with a new, relatable character!

Don't see it if You think Romeo and Juliet is a childish romance and are not up for having your mind changed.

See it if Creative interpretation of Romeo and Juliet - highlights gender differences when passion and lust are at play for two young people.

Don't see it if You hate joy.

See it if A thought provoking take on an absolute classic! Shows clear respect for the original story and thoughtful, critical modern interpretation!

Don't see it if You think Romeo and Juliet is a romance to envy (or, do, but prepare to be challenged)

See it if You like when Shakespeare is shaken up a bit, in an intimate space with excellent acting. The staging & performances made the story clear.

Don't see it if You actually think Romeo & Juliet is a romantic ideal and you won't be told otherwise.

Also This was great. I came straight from work and I thought I would get bored at some point. I never did. I loved the premise of the teenage girl reacting to things and the story unfolding in her room. I think the only reason I ever thought R&J was an epic love story is because adults told me so when I was young. It was great to see Maddie (the girl) think and respond for herself.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see an original, inventive "take" that combines great acting, staging and some humor, all done in 90 engrossing minutes.

Don't see it if You are a "purist" who cannot tolerate anyone reimagining Shakespeare.

Also Everything worked in this retelling of Romeo & Juliet. This is an inventive staging of a story that almost everyone knows. From the acting to the lighting, to the use of music--everything worked. I went expecting to be a little bored and instead left wanting more. The conceit of a teenage girl reading the play for the first time and hearing her reaction after being thrust into the action worked really well and interjected some much needed humor into the original text. Pocket Universe totally hit the bulls-eye on this one! I know I will go again with some friends before the run ends.... Read more Read less

See it if See it if you enjoy a fresh telling of the classic story, especially if you never quite understood or empathized with its characters.

Don't see it if Don’t see it if you are unmovably committed to well-known movie versions of the play.

Also I so enjoyed seeing talented actors move seamlessly though a modern teenage girl’s twinkle-lit bedroom as she experiences the play for the first time, peeling away the glory of the story’s tragic choices. Enchanting music and choreography.... Read more Read less

See it if You like modern interpretations of Shakespeare. You like plays in intimate settings. You want a cast well-versed in classical text.

Don't see it if You prefer Shakespeare in its original format w/no cuts. You don't want a commentary on the verse. You prefer plays w/big production values.

See it if You want to “rethink” some wording of this play (you most likely read first in high school). Like seeing twists on the Bard’s work.

Don't see it if You want a straight up reading of this play. Or don’t like plays with no intermission.

Also The music (especially as you walk into the space) really was great. And put you in the mind of angst filled teenager.... Read more Read less