Issue date: 3/7/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Stephen Haas Rom, played by Mario Podeschi, and Griselda "Goodie" Schwartz, played by Brenda Neff, perform during the Charleston Alley Theatre production of ´Rom and Julie´ Friday evening.

The modernization of "Romeo and Juliet," titled "Rom & Julie," played this weekend at the Charleston Alley Theatre and will continue in Decatur.

Many audience members enjoyed the play, despite the changes made in the adaptation by writer and director Duke Bagger.

"It was not what I expected at all, and it was really good," said Greg Young, a sophomore business management major who attended the production Saturday.

At 8 p.m., Bagger welcomed the audience with announcements of upcoming Charleston Alley Theatre activities.

The lights went out and the cast sang a fugue, a classical song, about some of the problems that can occur in the dark and when a leading man has no understudy.

The production progressed by introducing a character who was not a part of the original "Romeo and Juliet" play, Goodie Schwartz, the good faerie, played by Brenda Neff.

Though Schwartz had difficulty in the past, her supervisor, the big faerie, gave her one last chance. Schwartz's new assignment was to ensure Rom would find his true love.

Much of the play is centered on Schwartz's involvement in the love story. She helped Rom ascend to Julie's balcony, attained the sleeping potion for Julie and does much more that it made it hard to believe the story worked without her before.

There are musical numbers throughout the play, including a fight scene directed as a rap piece.

During the death scene of Tybalt, some members of the audience found themselves involved as Tybalt came into the audience and leapt into the laps of audience members.

Shakespearean English is only used sparingly in the production, in parody, because Bagger tried to make the play more modern with his adaptation of the original "Romeo and Juliet."

"This is not your mother's 'Romeo and Juliet,'" Bagger said. "The play does follow Shakespeare's version scene by scene; however, there are some serious changes throughout."

As was customary in Shakespeare's day, actors posed as statues to indicate set changes.

The atmosphere is always light during the production as slapstick comedy, running jokes about body odor and allusions to sex are common.

Bagger was very satisfied with the weekend's performances, and he said he felt Saturday's performance was "fabulous."

"Rom & Julie" is not recommended for children.

"Rom & Julie" will be performed at 8 p.m. March 14 and 2 p.m. March 13 at the Charleston Alley Theatre. It will also play 8 p.m. March 11 and March12 at the Shilling Auditorium in Decatur.

Admission at the Charleston Alley Theatre is $8 for general admission, $6 for students and $5 per person for groups of at least 10 people.

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