Posted on 09/13/2013 6:13:26 AM PDT by Gamecock
You’ve no doubt seen adaptations and derivations of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet many times, both on screen and on film. But you’ve probably never seen it done the way that Philadelphia’s Curio Theatre Company is set to do it: with Romeo and Juliet as lesbian lovers.
Curio’s Romeo and Juliet opens on October 11th at Calvary United Methodist Church (those liberal Methodists!) in West Philadelphia. The show marks the kickoff to the company’s 2013-14 season, all of which explores ideas surrounding gender.
“I had been thinking that it would be interesting to do Romeo and Juliet as a same-sex production,” says Gluck. “And then a couple of months later, I happened to be in a Curio staff meeting when our artistic director says, ‘So, we’re thinking of doing a same-sex Romeo and Juliet.’ I jumped up and said, ‘Absolutely!’”
St. Clair says she was attracted to this version of the play because of its heightened sense of danger. “Not only is Juliet falling in love with the one person she cannot fall in love with,” observes St. Clair. “But she’s also falling in love with a woman, which is not only against the rules of the Church, but it’s also a surprise to herself.”
Antagonist character Tybalt, traditionally a man, is also being portrayed as and being played by a woman. “And there’s no Lord Capulet,” explains director Krista Apple. “Lady Capulet runs the house.”
It may be a lesbian version of Romeo and Juliet, but don’t expect any bawdy twists or lesbian sex scenes. Other than changed pronouns and other tweaks for the sake of practicality, the production is sticking to Shakespeare’s original text as closely as possible.
Some may see this all as a political statement. But Apple promises that it’s not.
“A few short years ago, casting the most classic of love stories with two women would have had to be, by necessity, a political statement in the United States,” Apple suggests. “Can you imaging a world, dear audience, where two women could fall in love and marry? What if they could? But women can marry now and claim each other on their taxes. And for me, that means we’re arriving at a point when this casting choice can simply be another version of this timeless story. Another lens to see it through, with new eyes.”
Someone is going to hell.
Ah, the lack of creativity in the artistic front is almost as frighting as the lack of intelligence is on the political one.
Oh well, we can hope that CW-II does a good cleanup.
As is usual, I volunteer to run the guillotine...but ONLY if Pelosi, Reid, and certain other high officials go first.
You could put them at the end of the line and refuse to sharpen the guillotine blade...
They felt this was appropriate in a church?! All other considerations, arguments for/against the play don’t matter. It is a church.
This wouldn’t have even been proposed in church.
I was a theater major in college and acted in or directed some Shakespeare productions in community theater. These kinds of productions used to drive me up the wall, much like today’s “Eurotrash” opera productions. Sadly, bastardized Shakespeare like this is becoming the norm.
It might have been better to call it a “church building.”
Ironically, the UMC still defrocks gays.
So.....other than the characters' names, what does this have to do with the Bard's original play?
Shakespeare meets the Vagina Monologues
How edgy
I’ll stick with Olivia Hussey in the hetero version.
Of course, anyone who objects is homophobic. We have to be liberal, and open minded and all that.
Shakespeare with a Brokeback flair????
The Episcopal and ELCA bishops were likely disappointed one of their “churches” was not selected.
Box receipts will not exceed 10.00 for this turkey.
That building ceased to be a church when they chose to spit in God’s face and told Him to leave them alone to create their own brand of faux Christianity..
Matthew 7:15
OK,which one is "Juliet"?
A sneak peek at the dialogue:
Juliet: The Montagues and Capulets are mortal enemies.
Romeo: No reason that should affect our feelings for each other. Lesbie friends.
Juliet: Homo you don't!
If they’re going to go that far, might as well go all the way. Have Romeo and Juliet be from the same family and do away with the Capulets altogether.
Yawn. Church, female star-crossed lovers, snooze... Schedule the performance in a mosque and you’ve got something interesting.
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