Unconventional classic “Romeo + Juliet” takes the internet by storm
Called “admirably diverse, comfortably queer and aggressively zillennial” by The British Guardian, the Broadway debut of “Romeo + Juliet” has been anything but subtle. From its flamboyant, teen-spirited reimaginings to the flashy, colorful costumes, to the interactive theater set-up, fans who attend and those who are limited to studying online clips alike have been raving over Tony-winning director Sam Gold’s eclectic production.
As is true with most productions of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the premise and core of the story remains the same. Two teens torn apart by family rivalries fall in love and fight for each other until meeting an untimely end at the hands of fate. Gold’s rendition moves in a much more raunchy and modern direction, specifically tailored with the Gen-Z demographic in mind. Original songs by Grammy-award-winning songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff, best known for his work with Taylor Swift, break up the classic Shakespearean dialogue, and one of the songs, “Man of the House”, has even been released on streaming platforms and is sung by none other than the show’s Juliet.
Beyond the excitement for Gold’s new take on a tried and true tale, fans are also raving about the show’s two leads. Romeo is played by Kit Connor, who is best known for his role in “Heartstopper,” a queer Netflix series that has just recently released its third season. In September, Connor had his breakout voiceover role as the character of Brightbill in the movie “The Wild Robot.” His star-crossed lover Juliet is played by Rachel Zegler, who was catapulted to stardom with her role in Steven Speilberg’s 2021 remake of “West Side Story,” where she starred as Maria. She is also set to star as Snow White in a live remake coming in 2025. Both stars are beloved among teen and young adult audiences, luring the demographic to the theaters and ensuring that the show’s social media presence will never appear lackluster.
Many are praising Connor and Zegler for their palpable chemistry and gushing over several of choreographer Sonya Tayeh’s incredibly romantic setups. Across social media platforms, live witnesses and parasocial fans alike have been raving about one specific part, which very cleverfully reimagines one of the most iconic images from the play.
In the coveted balcony scenes, traditional renditions placed Romeo at the foot of Juliet’s tower, shouting his declarations of love to her and eventually climbing up the side of her castle. In Gold’s take, on the unconventional center circle stage, Zegler is suspended from a floating bed attached to the ceiling. Rather than remaining safely on the ground, Romeo takes it upon himself to jump up and free hang from the edge of the bed in an equally suspenseful and breathtaking manner. The moment that has fans raving for Connor comes at the end of the scene, when he pulls himself up to Zegler to kiss her, suspending himself in a pull-up position that takes the breath away from fans.
While the initial premise of such a complete 180 away from most renditions of this infamous play may intimidate some viewers, as a whole, Gold’s maximalist production conveys the core theme of Shakespeare’s original work: the passion and intensity of teen love. Through his modern take that includes the addition of drinking, smoking and rapping, Gold takes the audience on a journey, captivating them with song and dance and even allowing for audience participation. Many audience members would verbally respond to the actor’s choices, and at one point, Connor runs up and down aisles proclaiming his love for Juliet.
As a whole, the show has been met with rave reviews and even expanded its dates with more shows just from pre-orders. For both fans of the theater and those wanting a spectacle that Gold models after “a Troye Sivan music video” [in his words], “Romeo + Juliet” is the production to see.
