“Romeo and Juliet”: the classic romance, strongly acted

09/24/2025

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This is an action-packed scene from a stage production, likely Romeo and Juliet, depicting a sword fight and a dramatic confrontation between four characters in a gritty, Renaissance-era town square set. In the foreground, two men are mid-duel, adopting wide, aggressive stances with swords crossed in the center. The man on the left is facing away from the camera, wearing dark red leather pants and a black leather vest with rivets. The man on the right, facing the camera, wears a white shirt with a dark belt, black trousers, and tall black boots, holding a dark scarf or garment in his left hand. The set features stone-textured walls, an arched doorway, and a stone fountain between the dueling men. Two other men watch the fight from the periphery: on the far left, a man in a red vest and dark clothing stands ready with a dagger, and behind the fighters, a man in a green shirt looks on with concern. The lighting is bright and focused on the center action. — Godswill Utionkpan as Sampson, Triever Sherwood as Tybalt, Christopher Atchison as Benvolio, and Quentin McCuiston as Mercutio. (Photo by Avery Brunkus)

This is a cheerful scene from a stage production, likely Romeo and Juliet, showing five actors in a moment of lively interaction around a stone fountain centerpiece. The set has a rustic, Renaissance-era feel with dark, textured walls. On the left, a small person in a brown tunic and cap stands by a taller man with blonde hair who is seated on the edge of the fountain, clapping and smiling. In the center, another actor, wearing an orange-brown tunic and cap, is seated behind the fountain with a basket of bread, laughing heartily. To the right of the fountain, a fourth actor, with dark, curly hair, is gesturing dramatically and grinning while holding a dark blue cloth near his face. On the far right, a fifth man stands slightly apart, wearing a dark vest and tan breeches, observing the action with a slight smile. The overall mood is one of lighthearted fun and camaraderie. — Nicole Lawrie as Balthasar, Christopher Atchison as Benvolio, Ryan N. Murray as Peter, Quentin McCuiston as Mercutio, and Isaac Hickox-Young as Romeo. (Photo by Avery Brunkus)

Let me say this from the start: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is probably my least favorite of the Bard’s plays. While their tragic romance is the centerpiece of the story, as characters Mr. Montague and Ms. Capulet are often upstaged by others in the play. Mercutio is more ribald, Tybalt more hot-headed, the Nurse more fussily funny, the Capulet parents more obstinate — even the Prince of Verona pulls attention in his brief moments onstage. But the title characters are impulsive and impatient to an extreme that would be comical if the outcome were not so tragic.

That said, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has mounted a strong and at times moving production of Romeo and Juliet under the direction of Bonnie J. Monte. It is one that will satisfy both those who are long-familiar with the play and those who have never seen it staged before, and it is one that I recommend seeing.

In an inspired bit of casting, the title characters are played by Isaac Hickox-Young and Billie Wyatt — in real life, husband and wife. Both of them are fine actors with years-long associations with the Shakespeare Theatre in plays of all sorts by multiple playwrights. Here, they bring an extra layer of romantic fervor that the usual pairing of actors would find difficult to match.

The talented supporting cast, under Monte’s direction, adds much to the propulsive fervor of the play. I want to mention Celeste Ciulla’s Nurse, protective, practical, and devoted to her young mistress (don’t forget, Juliet is on the cusp of 14 when the play starts); Anthony Marble and Aurea Tomeski as the prideful, stubborn, and vindictive Capulet parents, with Tomeski a first-class fire-breathing bitch-mother; Quentin McCuiston’s Mercutio, a free-spirit irrepressibly seeing life for the joke that it often is; and Edward Furs as the Prince of Verona and the Friar Lawrence of Raphael Nash Thompson, both of whose efforts to stop the deadly feud between the Capulets and Montagues are thwarted by coincidence.

This is a somber and dramatic scene from a stage production, likely Romeo and Juliet, showing a large group of people gathered around a funeral bier or tomb, illuminated by deep blue and shadowy lighting. The set is constructed from dark, heavy stone-like elements, with a raised platform in the center. Lying on this platform is a person covered by a pale, patterned cloth, with another figure bent over them in grief. Surrounding the bier are eight other characters, all dressed in varying dark, historical costumes, suggesting members of both feuding families, Friar Laurence, and guards. The most prominent standing figures include an older man in a brown hooded friar's robe and cross, speaking with a dramatic gesture, and a woman in a black dress who looks on with concern. To the far left, a veiled older woman is kneeling. The scene is one of shared mourning or discovery in a moment of great tragedy. — L to R: Celeste Ciulla as Nurse, Ryan N. Murray as Abram, Anthony Marble as Capulet, Aurea Tomeski as Lady Capulet, Billie Wyatt (center) as Juliet, Edward Furs as Prince, Raphael Nash Thompson as Friar Laurence, Triever Sherwood as Watch, Robert S. Gregory as Montague, and Quentin McCuiston as Watch. (Photo by Avery Brunkus)

Scenic Designer Sarah Beth Hall has created a unit set using movable walls, curtains, statuary, and two levels of staging to create the public and private spaces of Verona (and the neighboring town of Mantua). The nearly intuitive use of light for dramatic effect is the product of Andrew Hungerford’s lighting designs. Director Monte does triple duty in designing the sounds of the city of Verona and its adjacent woods, as well as the lush look of the Veronese upper classes and royalty through her costume designs.

Romeo and Juliet has stood the test of time, both as a romantic tragedy and as a warning about the enormous cost of divisive civil unrest. It has been used as a basis for other plays and movies, including the musicals West Side Story and & Juliet. It is still presented on stages around the world, and its reputation only grows with each restaging. The version being presented by the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ is a worthy addition to this illustrious history. While I have never been in love with Romeo and Juliet, I strongly recommend making the trip to Drew University in Madison to experience this timeless tale of love and loss for yourselves.

This is a dramatic, intimate photo from a stage production, likely Romeo and Juliet, featuring two women in period-inspired costumes. On the left, an older woman, presumably the Nurse, is seated on a low bench. She has a light-colored veil or shawl draped over her head, wears a dark, intricately beaded or knitted top, and a long, beige skirt over which a white apron is visible. She is speaking with an animated, slightly humorous expression. On the right, a young woman, likely Juliet, is kneeling on the floor, facing the older woman with an intense, hopeful, or questioning look. She is dressed in a long, flowing dress with a pastel floral and leaf pattern and light pink, full sleeves. The background is dark and minimal, suggesting a secluded setting in a historical context. — Celeste Ciulla as Nurse and Billie Wyatt as Juliet. (Photo by Avery Brunkus)

Romeo and Juliet is presented by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at the F.M. Kirby Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison through Oct. 5, 2025. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to shakespearenj.org.