Romeo and Juliet (Wheelhouse Theater Company) NYC Reviews and Tickets

80%

(63 Reviews)

Positive

89%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Clever, Entertaining, Ambitious, Great staging

About the Show

The Wheelhouse Theater Company presents Shakespeare's most iconic love story.

This new mounting of the Bard's famous romance aims to mine the polarities of comedy and tragedy, love and hate, through playful, ensemble-driven work, which lies at the heart of the Wheelhouse approach to theater. The company sets up a great height of comedic joy from which the production falls into the depths of tragedy.

Member Reviews (63)

Ambitious, Indulgent, Slow, Has its moments, Tries a little too hard

See it if You want to support a troupe of newly professional actors. You enjoy seeing different interpretations of Shakespeare.

Don't see it if You want a more seasoned classical cast. You want Shakespeare presented in a more traditional manner. You want a big production.

Clever, Great acting, Great staging, Entertaining, Refreshing

See it if You want: Versatile young actors Great enunciation Perfect fight scenes Terrific interpretation Clever direction Enthusiasm Fun night out

Don't see it if You do not like the abridged version of Shakespeare's plays You do not like anything changed into a modern concept Have no spirit

Absorbing, Great acting, Great staging, Masterful, Quirky

See it if You enjoy beautifully told Shakespeare. Great actors playing multiple roles, often in the same scene. 90min, no intermission, perfect length

Don't see it if You don't like lighter takes on Shakespeare's tragedies. Intimate black box theater with an insufficient AC unit- that's the only bad bit.

Confusing, Cliched, Disappointing, Dizzying, Indulgent

See it if you want the a 90 minute cheat sheet version of this classic

Don't see it if you hate cute abridged versions of the Bard's plays

Clever, Great acting, Romantic

See it if You love Shakespeare and already familiar with R&J. The poetic language comes at you thick and fast, and if you listen hard it will soar.

Don't see it if Shakespeare is like "greek" to you and a timeless classic tragic love story just isn't your thing.

Delightful, Enchanting, Entertaining, Funny, Quirky

See it if you enjoy Shakespeare, intimate theater spaces, fun & shortened takes on Romeo & Juliet at 90 min, no intermission, which was nice.

Don't see it if you're looking for a very serious, dark take on Romeo & Juliet. This is a lighthearted, fun, enjoyable version.

Absorbing, Delightful, Edgy

See it if You like edgy takes on classic Shakespeare.

Don't see it if You've seen enough productions of Romeo and Juliet to last a lifetime

Ambitious, Refreshing, Funny, Great staging

See it if You love Shakespeare and would enjoy seeing it in a modern abridged format. Young NYU trained actors with good foundation in theatre.

Don't see it if You can't sit for 90 minutes in a hot theatre without water or an intermission. Some uneven moments. Romeo seemed way too old for the part

Critic Reviews (2)

"A cast of six spirited actors all perfectly portray multiple roles…The Wheelhouse Theater Company presents this fast-paced and faithful version of the romantic classic...Wise and Mr. Harrington’s staging is visually compelling with a number of clever touches...The integrity of 'Romeo & Juliet' is never compromised by this streamlined and vigorous representation, and this American cast uniformly handles the verse with finesse."
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"If the team set out to shatter the preconceived ideas of a traditional 'Romeo and Juliet,' then it should be proud. Intentions changed, sometimes making traditionally serious moments joyfully comic, and frequently casting classic lines in new light…The Wheelhouse Theater Company prides itself on its ensemble‐focused efforts, and in this they don’t disappoint. They’ve sown seeds in a fertile space, and the result is a new and exciting varietal."
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