A few cupid’s arrows still hang in the air amidst the aftermath of Valentine’s Day, so catch the love bug and head over to Mobile’s Playhouse in the Park for a traditional rendition of the greatest love story ever told — “Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.”

The Show

This 75 minute production will capture the true nature of the Bard’s tale, with full period sets and costumes, plus a cast of 35 youth actors from Mobile and Baldwin counties, according to Director Danny Mollise.

“In the 28 years I’ve been at the Playhouse, this is the third time we have done a Shakespeare production; in the past, we have staged ‘Comedy of Errors’ and a Shakespeare sampler called ‘All the Worlds a Stage,’ he revealed. “This show is being staged in a very traditional way. Set in Elizabethan times in Verona, the show has been edited to 75 minutes. Lots of costumes, a large unit set, original underscore music and much sword play make this a traditional, but exciting production.”

Cast and crew

Production design is by Pamela Mollise, music by Scott Jolly and choreography by Matthew Kiel, Mollise explained.

Actors include:

House of Montague: Lady Montague – Ariana Wager, Zoe Shields; Romeo – Kilian Afzalirad; Mercutio – Blake Greenwood; Benvolio – Will M. Scanland Jr.; Balthasar – Marcus Marchese; and Abram – Ian Copeland.

House of Capulet: Lord Capulet – Scott Jolly; Lady Capulet – Bailey Sawyer, Carson Sanders; Tybalt – Nick Datko; Juliet – Isabelle Rutens; Nurse – Jordan Nocon, Callie Singletary; Gregory – Tyler Bolen; Sampson – Blake Greenwood; and Peter - Ian Copeland.

Other Characters: Escalus – Marcus Marchese; Paris – Jacob Sims; Friar Laurence – Robby Naylor; Apothecary – Layne Watts, Emily Byars; Dancers — Edward Duncan III, Mary Ruth Saucer, Taylor Feagin, Jasmine Ramsey, Jenson Sirmon and Mary Curtright.

Mollise divulged that actors have been working particularly hard to master Elizabethan English.

“The language in the Play has been the most difficult aspect for the actors to come to terms with,” he explained. “We have been working with John Barton's seminal work, ‘Playing Shakespeare,’ and this has been a great aid in creating believable performances while remaining true to the beauty of Shakespeare's text.”

Audience

The show is appropriate for ages 12 and older. Public shows will be held March 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and senior citizens.

A special show for senior citizens will be held March 12 at 11 a.m. for $8 per person. School show dates are March 7, 8, 12 and 13 at 9 and 11 a.m. School show tickets are $8.00 for students; teachers admitted free.

“I think when any company elects to do a Shakespeare show, they have to figure out if it is relevant to the theatre's audiences,” Mollise said. “This show in particular, speaks to a younger audience, dealing with relevant topics to young adults such as first love, social mores and family problems.”

For reservations, call 251-602-0630; for more information, visit playhouseinthepark.org.

The Playhouse

The Playhouse in the Park, located in Mobile’s Langan Park behind Mobile Museum of Art, has been training young people in theatre arts since 1961. The program has grown to include four large productions a year; a comprehensive training program of drama, dance, vocal, piano, guitar, and scenic art classes; and an elaborate, full-scale puppet theatre. The Playhouse In The Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are greatly appreciated to help provide the highest quality of instruction and performances for the youth of our area. PITP’s mailing address is P.O. Box 8145 Mobile, Alabama 36689.