With the new season of Broadway already in full swing, the latest show is Romeo and Juliet directed by Sam Gold. This production stars Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, both of which make their Broadway debut in this production.
This production was originally advertised as a “visceral and visionary production” that will have a short 20-week run. It is important to note that this is a modern adaptation of the original Shakespearean tragedy. This is a rare occasion where a Broadway show is presented in the round, meaning the audience is on all four sides of a literal round stage. Though there is much anticipation over this show in the weeks before this opening, many people in the theater realm are skeptical.
With two competing productions of Romeo and Juliet, the other one starring Tom Holland in the West End, there is significant room for comparison. However, there seem to be clear distinctions between the two. For instance, in the West End, it is a bare scene and minimal costumes and sets, whereas the Broadway adaptation has harshly modern and flashier street clothes for costumes with a loud environment. The West End production has a quiet and serious environment, with scenes of Romeo on the theater’s roof, as opposed to the music and songs that have been inserted into the Broadway adaptation. However, I don’t think these two should necessarily be competing with each other simply because they are meant to serve two very different purposes.
Overall, though there are mixed reviews on the most recent adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, I think it is worth any theater lover’s time. It incorporates many things that are becoming increasingly popular, such as modern settings and clothing as well as music incorporations
