Walking into the R+J play at the Newman Center was like walking into another dimension. A world was brought to life through one simple prop: a red blanket.
The prop was not just a blanket, but a potion, a knife, a scarf, blood, a peace treaty. It completely transformed the experience of the play.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, the DU Theatre Department’s R+J performed for their opening night. The play takes place at an all-boys Catholic Boarding school.
R+J is an adaptation of the Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” imagined by Joe Calarco.
Calarco’s play showcases four boys discovering a copy of the school-banned “Romeo and Juliet,” upon starting their nighttime prayers. In an act of rebellion, the boys decide to reenact the famed play.
The play jumps between narratives, one where the boys are acting out “Romeo and Juliet” and one in the real world. When the setting shifts out of the enacting, the audience is exposed to the forbidden relationship between the boys who are playing Romeo and Juliet.
Acting is the only way that the boys are allowed to be together, as in the real world they are constrained by the Catholic School’s beliefs.
Romeo, or Student 1, was played by Sam Werkema. Werkema is a senior, double majoring in computer science and theater, who has been in many plays during his time at DU including, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “A Bright New Boise,” “Antigone” and “Beth.” Beyond the stage, Werkema could also be seen aiding the Tech Crew.
Werkema’s experience on the stage did not go unnoticed. With his emotional acting and clear diction, he played quite a remarkable Romeo and Student 1.
His counterpart, Juliet, or Student 2, was played by Jake Henry. Henry is a second-year theater major. He accompanied Werkema in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and acted in “Paper Thin.”
Despite his fairly new experience in the DU Theatre Department, Henry played the roles with professionalism and class. It truly felt as though he was in love with Student 1.
Student 3 and Student 4, played by fourth-year Cooper Atchison and fourth-year Jack Cansler, respectively, beautifully balanced the multiple parts they played.
The two actors played most of the supporting characters in “Romeo and Juliet.” They played each character distinctively, there was little confusion as to which student was playing what character.
The students adorned their role for two nights instead of three, as their show on Nov. 8 was unfortunately canceled due to weather conditions. The show ran for 110 minutes, with a ten-minute intermission between acts.
During these nights, the intimate stage allowed the audience to feel as though they were in the boys’ dormitory.
Part of the play’s success was due to the brilliancy of director Kelly Van Oosbree. This is Oosbree’s return to the DU stage after directing “The Taming” last winter. This is certainly not the last of Oosbree’s work, as audiences can expect to see her upcoming adaptations of “White Christmas” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”
With few props, the simplicity of the set and authenticity of the actors, the audience felt the sorrow of forbidden love. They ached with the tragic knowing of the ending.
As Oosbree highlights in this play, “Calarco’s world use of poetry as a vehicle for self-discovery allows them to express emotions that may be stifled in their everyday life. It emphasizes the fluidity of love and attraction, illustrating that desire knows no boundaries.”
