THUNDER BAY — The classic love story full of hope and tragedy will entertain Thunder Bay audiences in a rather unique setting this summer.
Magnus Theatre is continuing its popular outdoor theatre experience with a production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
“We really listened to our patrons last year who wanted to see some good, classic theatre,” said Thom Currie, artistic director of Magnus Theatre.
And what could be more classic than the tragic love story between two star-crossed lovers from families locked in a bitter rivalry.
“Romeo and Juliet is completely timeless, and I think that is what is really cool about the play,” Currie said.
“Yes, it was written in the 1500s, but there is something about that raw emotion of two teenagers falling for each other and willing to risk everything even though their families don’t want them to be together. There is a universal appeal that I wanted to bring to the summer experience.”
The local theatre company has been hosting outdoor theatre experience shows every summer for the past four years.
A tent has been set up outside the Magnus Theatre main stage and this year the walls will be left open for part of the show, and then closed for other parts.
The performance will also take place on what is known as an alleyway or traverse stage, with the stage in the centre and audience members sitting on both sides.
“It’s a little bit closer to Shakespeare’s time,” Currie said. “It’s basically theatre in the round.”
The outdoor experience and alleyway stage also really helps the actors engage with the audience in a way that a traditional stage does not necessarily provide.
Hudson Morash, who plays Romeo, said it is like Shakespeare in the park, a popular theatrical institution in many communities but something Thunder Bay hasn’t seen in a long time.
“It adds a lot of dynamism to the scenes and is a lot more fun and in a way, adds a lot more honesty and integrity to the moment,” he said. “It’s a lot less one dimensional.”
“We do a lot of speaking our thoughts out loud as Romeo and Juliet and we can talk to the audience,” said Jasmine Madeo, who plays Juliet.
“So working with this kind of stage is really exciting because we have lots of people we can talk to and work with. I think it’s going to be a really good experience and something different for audiences who haven’t done this before.”
Directed by Andrew Cecon, the production includes a cast of eight, with some actors playing multiple roles and other roles combined into one.
And while there is a slightly contemporary spin to the classic tale, it still uses all of Shakespeare’s original writing.
“It’s timeless, it’s a classic, and it’s beautiful text that people will love,” Madeo said. “It’s also an easy Shakespeare story to follow, so even if people don’t know Shakespeare that well, it’s a fun story. There are some surprises you will find out about and I think people will really enjoy it.”
“I think what people continue to love for hundreds of years is the love story,” Morash added. “There’s something really charming about the innocence and joy of this young love. There’s nothing that can get in the way of it. These two are totally unstoppable and I think everyone wants a love like that.”
Romeo and Juliet opens on Thursday, July 11 with a preview performance and will be running until July 27, with eight performances per week.
Tickets are available on the Magnus Theatre website.
