Curtain Call presents ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Filed Under Country Curtain | Posted on July 9, 2008
Tragedy and true love will take the stage this summer at Shakespeare on the Green in Stamford.
This weekend kicks off Curtain Call’s fifth annual free Shakespeare performance featuring the bard’s famous play “Romeo and Juliet.”
“We played it safe for the past four years it’s about time for a tragedy,” said Lou Ursone, executive director of Curtain Call. “Romeo and Juliet is such a well known piece of literature, I think the audience will really enjoy the show.”
Romeo will be played by 18-year-old Darien resident Paul Ciasillo, while 14-year-old Stamford resident Zoe Schwidoek will play Juliet. Schwidoek, who has been acting since the age of four, says that performing Shakespeare is one of the best experiences of her life.
“There is so much energy and adrenaline when you perform,” she said. “I am so excited for this opportunity it really should be a lot of fun.”
According to Ciasillo, mastering the language of William Shakespeare was not an easy task and took a lot of getting used to.
“Trying to be accurate with the language and acting in a Shakespearean play is definitely a challenge,” said Ciasillo. “Once you get it down it’s a blast to perform, though.”
This past September, Curtain Call held Shakespearean workshops, titled “Idols of March,” to find the best young Shakespearean actors around, said Ursone. The competition had 11 high schools in Fairfield County host two workshops, where Curtain Call teachers educated young actors about Shakespeare to better understand what they were performing, he said. After the workshops, a competition was held in March, with 16 finalists vying to be cast in the Shakespeare on the Green play.
According to Kathleen Cameron, who participated in the Idols of March workshops and plays the role of Pola in the play, the assistant to the nurse, the workshops were very helpful and necessary to anyone who wants to perform Shakespeare.
“There are so many different interpretations to Shakespearean plays,” said Cameron. “It’s hard work and I think actors need to understand what they are performing, but, at the same time, it’s so much fun.”
Raul Meruelo, who plays the role of Paris in the Curtain Call production, also participated in the Idols of March workshop, and says he can now appreciate the comedy in Shakespeare’s work.
“It’s funny, now when I am backstage I listen to the play and actually understand the jokes,” said Maruelo. “Shakespeare is really funny taking that workshop was really helpful and now I can appreciate what I am performing.”
“This is a comfortable and casual activity for families to go to together,” said Ursone. “Shakespeare was meant to be performed in an outdoor environment and this play will just be phenomenal.”
Tags: audience, bard, curta, curtain, curtain call, romeo and juliet, shakespeareRelated posts
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