Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
News release West Ranch High School Theatre is presenting William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the classic story of young forbidden love, on Nov. 6, 7 and 8 – with a twist. While the actors are keeping the Shakespearean language, the setting for the warring Capulet and Montague families is transported to America in the 1980s, according to a news release from West Ranch Theatre. “Think of ’80s movies like ‘The Breakfast Club,’ ‘Pretty in Pink’ and ‘The Karate Kid,’ and you’ll see where West Ranch Theatre Director Jarod Spradling drew inspiration for his staging of Shakespeare’s most famous play,” the release said. The production includes subtle cues for ’80s aficionados, Lucas Chrisman, who plays Romeo, said in the release. “We never state it explicitly, (but through) mannerisms, accents, body language — it’s an Easter egg for people who enjoy ’80s culture to find and enjoy.” The tragic tale of young lovers from feuding families has captured audiences’ attention for more than 400 years, with countless translations, stagings and filmed versions. The enduring themes of romantic love and crushing tragedy have helped keep it relevant and popular over the centuries, Chrisman said. Shakespeare “thought of the most tragic possible thing you could think of,” he said in the release. “It’s a tale that stands the test of time because love is something everyone can relate to, and the tragedy of children dying is the worst thing that can happen. Combine the two, and it hits like a truck.” Mackenzie Hillhouse, who plays Juliet, said the cast took several days to focus on learning the Elizabethan wording, which can be tricky to the modern ear. But audiences shouldn’t be concerned about not understanding what they’re watching, she said in the release. “Through the staging of scenes themselves and the performances we’ve come up with, the audience shouldn’t have trouble following the story, even if they haven’t seen Shakespeare before,” she said. Hillhouse, who said she has grown up consuming ’80s films, is enjoying bringing the lovestruck teen to life. “I really like Juliet, and how we’ve taken her in the direction of a Molly Ringwald-inspired person,” she said. “With the era the show’s set in, we have the ability for Juliet to not just be the ingénue but the confident, curious counterpart to Romeo’s romantic, dramatic character.”
