Hannah Pell—Executive Director/Producer & Dramaturge (playing Benvolia) and Mary Ellen Schneider—Artistic Director/Producer (playing Romea) of R&J, a Gender-Reversed Romeo and Juliet answered some quick questions for @SeeItOrSkipItLA!
1. Is there anything new that you’ve learned about the text while rehearsing with this adaptation?
A: Hannah – This is just one of many things, but the work we did this time on the balcony scene BLEW my mind. For the first time, I realized that the huge differences between Romeo and Juliet as people almost derail their relationship before it really starts. That was revelatory to me: this scene isn’t just two people already in love spouting poetry to each other. There are several moments in it where everything almost falls apart. This scene is two people feeling each other out (with, yes, some of the most unbelievably beautiful and powerful words ever written).
Mary Ellen – WHERE DO WE BEGIN? It’s as if we just uncovered a brand new Shakespeare that has been alluded to but never before found in its entirety.
2. Moment of truth, who did the better R&J – Zeffirelli or Luhrmann?
A: H – Luhrmann—The Zeffirelli one is lovely but (according to my memory) kind of sedate, whereas Luhrmann’s is a gut-punch. There are moments from it that still hit me viscerally when I think about them (the Queen Mab speech, Romeo’s “Then I defy you, stars!”, them looking at each other through the fish tank) even though I haven’t watched it since high school. But my favorite all-time Shakespeare film version is Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado with Emma Thompson. The two of them are just such geniuses with the language and there’s so much joy in that movie.
ME – Us. JK! I personally think Luhrmann, because it hit me viscerally in such a relatable way.
3. What about your show makes it perfect for the Fringe?
A: H – Fringe is a place to experiment and take some big risks surrounded by other people who love to take risks in theatre, and that’s what this show and this cast/crew are. 🙂
ME – That we’re a scrappy theatre company making a bold choice which could fail miserably… but won’t!
4. What do you hope the audience walks away with after your show?
A: H – It would thrill me beyond belief if people walk away from R&J with altered perceptions of these characters and of the play itself, feeling like this was a completely new play that they had seen for the very first time. I hope it’s a production that stays with people.
ME – I hope they go back to their cars, stunned, silent, and weeping. For humanity. And thinking, we’ve got to do something!
5. What show, other than yours, are you most excited to see at the Fringe?
A: H – I’m particularly excited to see shows that take on aspects of Shakespeare, history, and feminism, such as Queer Classics’ Taming of the Shrew, The Porters of Hellsgate’s Breaking Bard, Illyrian Players’ Two Girls One Bard, Shakespeare(ish), the Player King, Nell Gwynne…I could go on at length. 🙂
ME – I’m really excited to see other shows that are unusual versions of their source material!
Intrigued? You can see R&J on these days:
Actors Company (OTHER SPACE THEATER), 916 N. Formosa Ave
6/5 at 10:00PM
6/13 at 7:30PM
6/14 at 4:00PM
6/20 at 11:30PM
6/25 at 8:30PM
6/27 at 3:00PM
Okay fine, you can have a discount too!
20% off with discount code LARK
For ticketing click here.
*As a special thank-you to all Fringers following my coverage, please enjoy 15% off purchases at In Heels Productions throughout the month of June. Use code HFF15 at checkout!