Any buzz on Romeo and Juliet?

I was there the first night. It was my first time ever at Shakespeare in the Park. It was long. It was three hours and it felt like three hours. A lot of people left at intermission. People were leaving throughout the second half. It was over around 11:10pm. Then they had a real wedding after.

I did the in-person lottery at the Public. Everyone got a ticket.

I was at the first performance and it was a big miss for my partner and me.

A handful of folks I know have seen it. Unfortunately, the buzz isn’t great (underbaked US/Mexican border concept, uneven performances). Sounds like a skip unless you’re a “must see every Shakespeare in the Park production” completist.

The website was only recently updated to 2 hours and 40. It said 3 hours a few days ago. I've heard they are making significant trims. I will try to catch it this weekend.



(I love Romeo and Juliet)

ColorTheHours048 said: "A handful of folks I know have seen it. Unfortunately, the buzz isn’t great (underbaked US/Mexican border concept, uneven performances). Sounds like a skip unless you’re a “must see every Shakespeare in the Park production” completist."

I get Saheem Ali wanted to make it fresh, but I didn't think that worked very well. This article sheds a bit more light on the border concept which honestly is the last thing people want to think about when trying to escape for a few hours.

Sutton Ross said: "This article sheds a bit more light on the border concept which honestly is the last thing people want to think about when trying to escape for a few hours."

For what it’s worth, I don’t imagine there are many people going to Romeo and Juliet for escapism. I’d say people are tired of heavy-handed sociopolitical concepts more than they’re seeking apoliticism altogether.

Apolitical and literally dramatizing a US border/immigration policy that's happening right now are opposite ends of the spectrum. Obviously, productions that have leaned into themes of the moment, etc have always done well. As you say, it's the heavy handed "LOOK AT THIS MOMENT WE ARE IN!!!!" approach that turns people off.

InTheBathroom1 said: "Has Saheem directed a good Shakespeare in the Park?

Also, I can't imagine sitting through a three hour R&J and then having to sit through a wedding."

I very much enjoyed his Twelfth Night last year.

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Everything on reddit has been mixed to negative about this one"

I have friends who walked out, and their main gripe was that they had no idea this was going to be partially in Spanish without translation, though I suspect they were also turned off by the politics in a way I would not be.

I'm that vein, my partner and I wonder how the choreographer keeps getting work. Suffs choreo was pretty bland, Urinetown choreo was pretty bland, choreo here was just...bad.

Is it so much to ask just for a straightforward production of Romeo and Juliet? At this point it’s almost radical to do it without a capital C Concept.

Kad said: "Ali’s directing resume is incredibly spotty for somebody in such a prominent position and arguably the successor apparent to Oskar Eustis."

Agree. They definitely need a previously performed strong piece or great director/choreographer to look impressive (i.e. FAT HAM / BVSC). Otherwise ...