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By CHARLES RUNNELLS
crunnells@news-press.com
Originally posted on April 18, 2007
Think of it as Romeo and Juliet — naked
and dancing.
But don't get the wrong idea. Those star-crossed lovers
won't be doing the tango in the buff.
Instead, the latest Gulfshore Playhouse show strips down
the Bard and gets to the heart of the matter.
In other words: the love story.
This update skims over all that family rivalry stuff and
goes right for the heartstrings.
"We stripped it down to its essential elements," says
Kristin Coury, artistic director for the Playhouse. "And
that's this touching love story."
Then Coury threw in some singing and dancing, to boot. The
idea is to create a Shakespeare-in-the-Park experience for
people who might otherwise fear all that stuffy, old-English
lingo.
"We want people to go see Shakespeare and walk out
humming," Coury says.
The result — "Romeo and Juliet Redefined" — plays
Thursday through Saturday at Cambier Park in Naples.
Gulfshore Playhouse doesn't have its
own building yet. Its 35,000-square-foot theater — part of the Estero-on-the-River
project — might not get built for another few years.
The outdoors show tells the lovers' story
through both the original play and the many works it has
inspired. So you get a few songs from the musical "West Side Story and
an aria from the Gounod opera "Romeo et Juliette" (sung
by soprano Mary Ellen Assue of Opera Naples). Plus there
will be two duets from Prokfiev's ballet, "Romeo and
Juliet."
Naples writer Janina Birtolo ties everything together with
new Shakespeare-esque narrative spoken by Friar Lawrence.
A longtime Shakespeare buff, Birtolo says it was easier
writing like Shakespeare than she thought. Once she started
composing, the couplets and iambic pentameter came fast and
easy.
Birtolo toned down most of those fancy old words, and instead
went for a lighter touch. A few words here and there did
the trick.
" 'Often' becomes 'oft,' " she says. "Things
like that. So there's a definite Shakespeare flavor to it."
The production features five New York
City actors, including Chris Peluso of Broadway's "Wicked." He
plays Romeo opposite Cape Coral's Alexandrea Tocco.
Tocco says Coury approached her months ago about the role.
"She said, 'When I look at you, I think Juliet,' " Tocco
says. "Young Italian girl, 16. So, yeah, I guess it
makes sense."
Tocco and Peluso sing and dance on several numbers. In other
scenes, dancers represent what's going on inside their minds.
"It's what's happening between us, in dance," Tocco
says.
It's an unusual way to look at "Romeo and Juliet," but
Coury hopes people love this naked version of the Bard.
"I wanted to create something that was
more accessible than just straight Shakespeare," Coury
says. "This
allows the spectator to see a classic on stage for perhaps
the first time, but in a way that is engaging and enjoyable
for all ages.
IF YOU GO
• What: "Romeo and Juliet Redefined"
• When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
• Where: The bandshell at Cambier Park, located at Park Street and Eighth
Avenue South in Naples, just across from Naples City Hall.
• Admission: $40 ($20 for students). There are also $100 VIP tickets, which
include priority seating and a cast-part cocktail after the show
• Information: Call 213-3058 or go to gulfshore playhouse.org
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