CULTURE
A Timeless Tragedy: The Evolution of Romeo and Juliet
By: Jera Strony Edited by: Lauren Sorabella
“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene.” The iconic prologue of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been recited millions of times throughout history. Whether it be in amphitheaters, on a silver screen, or on Broadway, Romeo and Juliet has become a famed tragedy that’s been retold, revamped, and reconstructed for decades. In an ever-changing modern world, Shakespeare has taken on a new look, one to match the new era. But is it possible to keep the essence of the Shakespearean tragedy while also catering to a generation who are unengaged with the classic?
Going back to as early as the late 1500’s, Romeo and Juliet began to grace the stage. The first renditions consisted of little props, scenery, and a cast in which gender was fluid among characters and actors. Many of Shakespeare's works, including Romeo and Juliet, used male dominated casts to play all characters, even females. It was a popular success in its day, and that didn’t seem to change as the years went on. Bleeding into the 17th and 18th centuries, many renditions of the tragedy were seen, each adding their unique twist.
Over time, Shakespeare’s writings have gotten the reputation of being boring and difficult due to the story being predominantly written in iambic pentameter. With a countless number of new, more modern forms of media a large portion of the younger generations have turned their attention away from the romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
Enter Leonardo Decaprio and Claire Danes in 1996. The two young Hollywood stars portrayed the star-crossed lovers in a modern movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The script largely preserved the original language, while making it more entertaining and manageable for a younger audience. The movie was set in Mexico City, modernizing the feuding families to rival gangs and swapping swords for guns. And of course, the biggest appeal factor, a young and very attractive cast. The movie was able to bring a new trope to the classic Romeo and Juliet.
The young actors received many critiques from the older generation claiming they lacked an emotional understanding of the tragic material. As a college student, Grace Everett enjoyed “the more modern setting” and appreciated the fact that the movie “kept the classic Shakespearean language” stating that, “it gave a good balance.” When asked whether the movie sparked her interest in Shakspeare, Everett said “it made [her] more curious about reading the original story” and eventually led to her reading the original text of Romeo and Juliet.
At the end of the day Romeo and Juliet are supposed to be kids in love, so why not use actors who are familiar with the feeling of young love? It can take a new twist for the younger audience to truly understand the depth behind the story and feel the connection to the material. The movie was able to preserve the integrity of the traditional star-crossed lovers while adapting to a new era.
More recently, Romeo and Juliet has begun to come to life on Broadway. On West 50th Street, Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler are set to bring the iconic couple to life. The adaptation is directed by Sam Gold, with an original soundtrack by Jack Antonoff. This version includes modernized costumes, original songs, and a sleek set that aims to engage a GenZ audience. Its tagline boldly states, “The youth are f**ked.”
The play officially opens on October 24th , but clips have already gone viral on social media with its previews, including the iconic balcony kiss. However, in this version, Romeo (Kit Connor) does a pull-up on a floating mattress to kiss Juliet (Rachel Zegler). The clips have drawn in even more fans, with many attending the show simply for the star-studded cast. But does this undermine the integrity of the story?
Professionals of theater have had long-standing opinions, both positive and negative, on the eras of Romeo and Juliet. Aubyn Johnson, an experienced theater director and performer, believes “it is possible to keep the integrity of the story while adapting it to make things more accessible.” He pointed out “that the story had been reimaged millions of times,” citing “West Side Story and A Bronx Tale.”
In today's age everywhere you look has been influenced by the Shakespearean tragedy. The story of star-crossed lovers forbidden to be together has become a staple trope in all forms of media. From Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” to the children's movie “Gnomeo and Juliet” to the widely famous Broadway musical “West Side Story.” Each has an obvious connection to the plot of Romeo and Juliet. Hundreds of other types of media draw inspiration from Romeo and Juliet in more subtle ways. Maybe it's adding in a balcony kiss, using a quote from the play, or simply the addition of two feuding families. Not to mention, the fact that the themes of love and romantic tragedy have become universal themes in all types of modern media. Whether we realize it or not much of the entertainment and media we consume is intertwined with the story of Romeo and Juliet.
Johnson also stated that he believes “Romeo and Juliet is one that translates the best to adaptations because it is a simple story to tell.” He elaborates that those who choose to adapt Romeo and Juliet have to ask themselves “How do you make that story shine?”
In reality, Romeo and Juliet is never going to stop being adapted. We live in a world where entertainment and media are constantly changing and easily accessible. Adaptations like the new Broadway play are able to draw in a younger audience that may have previously cared very little about Shakespeare. It is fair to say that many come for the star-studded casts, but stay for the beauty of Shakespeare. It's impossible to continuously retell such a well-known story without factoring in the modern world. The continual evolution of Romeo and Juliet is what makes it so well known in the first place. There are so many versions and twists that there is a way for everyone to find something they connect with. That's the true beauty of Romeo and Juliet, no matter who you are and what you like, the timeless content and continual evolution makes it a classic that all generations can enjoy. “For there never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
