Romeo and Juliet has been redone so many different ways since William Shakespear published it in 1597, but the most recent take on it might be the worse one of them all. Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad are starring in the lead roles on Broadway. According to
Playbill, “In this new production, the members of the Montague household will be white, and the blood relatives of the Capulet family will be black. While race defines the family lineages, the original cause of the ‘ancient quarrel’, passed down by successive generations to their young, has been lost to time. Shakespeare’s dramatization of the original poem sets the two young lovers in a context of prejudice, authoritarian parents, and a never ending cycle of ‘revenge.’ Against this background, the strength of their love changes the world.”
Umm isn’t Bloom old enough to be Romeo’s father? He is way too old for the role. By not making the play about two teens takes away from the premise of what Shakespeare wrote over 400 years ago.
BTW Playbill also says that they will be releasing 100 tickets at $20 each for all the shows and I think that $20 too much for this production.
I hope that this show is killed in the preview stage and never actually opens on Broadway at the end of August. I mean we can’t let them destroy such a classic because if they get away with once, they will keep doing it.
xoxo Michael!
