No me gustó

Romeo and Juliet is a classic tale of woe and misunderstanding.  In that sense, BYU Young Performer’s version, Romeo Y Julieta, leaves the audience with just that; woe and misunderstanding.  While the overall idea seemed great, the execution was lost in the confusion of actors changing characters and languages.

The cast was limited, simplified.  This fact seemed ironic for a play that can seem quite complicated.  Rivaling families whose characters can’t seem to decide which side they are on is the observation my nine-year-old made.  I had to explain to her that there was just a lack of actors.  It seems like a few more actors could rectify this problem.  The simplified cast should work well for a younger audience.  Paired with the simplified costumes and props, it is easy to see how this production would travel well to schools and the like. The music was made by the cast either playing a few instruments or whistling.  The background changes were quick and easy.  I appreciated the simplicity.

However, in this adaptation, the disputing families, the Capulets and the Montagues, literally speak different languages.  This dramatic choice fell a little flat and seemed to lose part of the audience.  As a group whose target audience seems to be children, the confusion with the competing dialogue was just too much.  It would have been more successful if the language were simplified for children to comprehend.  Had the play been targeted for a more mature group, with more complicated sets, costumes, and characters, the Spanish would have made a large dramatic impact.  Sadly, the dueling languages were like the vial of poison consumed by Romeo—too quick and deadly.

The simplicity of the sets, props, and music were a refreshing take on the antiquated Romeo and Juliet. The changes made to set design and use of actors as musicians was entertaining to watch and quite engaging.  They missed the mark with the dialogue.  I went into the theatre knowing very little Spanish but the cast who was greeting the attendees assured me that it would not matter.  They claimed that you didn’t need to know Spanish to enjoy the play.  Which, for the most part, was true.  I couldn’t help but feel left out and confused while the Spanish dialogue was taking place.  Without the timeline in the back of the program, I would have been lost. If you want to perform Shakespeare for a young audience, keep it simple.