Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossed lovers of Shakespeare’s best-known play, bound and leap across the stage in the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production, currently at the Upperstage. This is an energetic, modern-dress staging starring two bright stars, Aaron Kirby as Romeo, and Sophia Macia as Juliet, plus a strong cast of players.
The greatest danger in mounting a production of Romeo and Juliet is that it is so well known that directors and actors either try to use gimmicks to keep it fresh (a rap version, gender switching, post-Apocalypse London settings to name a few I’ve seen), or fall back to traditional costuming and scene-setting so the audience falls under the familiar spell of beautiful poetry and medieval clothing, but they also don’t see anything new or relevant. Director Henry Woronicz does neither, steering a steady path with modern setting and costuming, and adding vigorous movement on and off the stage beyond just swordplay. The overall effect is to challenge the audience to see Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio (Ashley Dillard), Tybalt (Logan Moore), and Mercutio (Charles Pasternak) for who they were — alive, bright, young, as well as naive and hot-tempered.
Nurse, played by Milicent Wright, provides a touch of comic relief to an otherwise tense and sad play. Constance Macy and Robert Neal as Lady and Lord Capulet, are IRT stalwarts, turning in measured performances. Ryan Artszberger’s Friar Laurence is a stressed man, torn between serving the Lord and assisting the two sweethearts. Jeremy Fisher in multiple roles as Lord Montague, the Apothecary, and Paris, gives Paris a sweetly dull edge — one that certainly would not suit the emotionally changeable Juliet if the match ever came to pass.
A spare, contemporary set complements the performances, thanks to Eric Barker and the crack team at the IRT who seem to be able to make the small stage appear much larger. There’s a lot to love in this production at the IRT, which is celebrating a terrific season so far.
Romeo and Juliet continues through March 4. Visit irtlive.com or call 317-635-5252 for more information and ticket availability.
