NINA NESSETH
Lambda (Laurentian University)

SUDBURY, Ont. (CUP) — Romeo and Juliet certainly fall in love in Thorneloe Theatre Arts’ fall main stage production of the William Shakespeare classic. But, in this production, both are played by men.

Thorneloe, a federated college at Laurentian University, is bringing Joe Calarco’s Shakespeare’s R & J to Sudbury, Ont. This dramatic adaptation takes us into the Bard’s most popular tragedy through the experiences of four male students at a Catholic boarding school in the 1960s. The boys discover a copy of Romeo and Juliet and one night decide to perform it among themselves. It is a poignant and captivating coming-of-age story intertwined with the tale we know so well.

“If you’ve seen Romeo and Juliet 10 times and know it inside and out, you still haven’t seen it as it is in this show,” said actor Callam Rodya, whose character takes on the parts of Mercutio, Friar Laurence and Lady Capulet.

Much of the play’s dialogue is taken directly from Shakespeare; however, this dialogue is spoken by characters that are all at once fictional lovers and tragic figures, as well as teenage boys.

“It’s two stories rather than one,” explained Marc Bosse. “It’s the story of Romeo and Juliet — the two lovers that people have gotten to know over the years — but there’s also the story behind that of the students, of their connections.”

In classic Elizabethan fashion, the all-male cast must explore female roles, but they make it clear that this is not done for laughs.

“I learned a lot about playing a female, and playing not to make people laugh, as I’ve done in the past,” said Tom Garvin, who plays Juliet. “The stereotypical guy in a wig — it’s not like that at all. There are no costumes here, and I think that’s what’s going to fascinate people, rather than just make them laugh.”

The production is driven by its characters and keeps to a minimalist set, simple costumes and props. A 12-foot-long piece of solid red fabric serves as the main prop for the show, as it constantly transforms to represent not only physical objects, but serves as a connection between the four students.

Jake McNeil, who plays Romeo, comments that this minimalism lends a powerful draw to the performance

“I think it’s a unique piece of theatre. Although there is a lack of props and costumes, sets, I think that you’ll enjoy the fact that it leads to the very raw, very emotional, very deep place within humanity that people rarely get to see. I think that the play lends a lot of attention to the nuances between people, to the relationships that we form,” said McNeil.

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photo courtesy The Journeyman Theatre