Well, Romeo and Juliet opens (officially) tonight, though we've had like three previews with full audiences already. It's a really good show; extremely well cast, too. I heart everybody in it.
I have been thinking though. The whole thing ends up with mega-sadness on account of Montague (Romeo's dad) and Capulet (Juliet's pop) are all pissed at each other and feuding over something, but Shakespeare never tells us what. It's a real hole in the plot, actually. I've come up with what I think is a plausible list of reasons for their falling out.
TOP TEN POSSIBILITIES FOR ORIGIN OF CAPULET/MONTAGUE FUED
1) Costly accident involving Montague's oriental rug/fondue
2) Refusal of Montague to admit culpability in Enron fiasco
3) Montagues tacit refusal to participate in annual Capulet "key party"
4) Bitter rivalry over who has superior Jack Nicholson impression
5) Capulet's raging alcoholism
6) Montague mistook rapier in Capulet's pants for homosexual advance
7) Observation by Montague that Capulets wife is "built like brick shithouse"
8) Conflict over time share in Hilton Head
9) Capulet's nagging suspicion that Montague is member of Al-Qaeda
10) Boyhood locker-room hazing by Capulet of Montague over un-descended testicle
Well, I guess we'll never know for sure.
If anyone happens to find themselves in a bookstore this month, the February issue of American Theatre magazine has a big article on the Renaissance Season and there's a fantastic picture of the theatre. If you squint, you can see me standing in the back near the stage right door wearing a purple hat, this is from last year's production of Shrew.
Also, the theatre is working on putting together a podcast of the season, so I'll get more information for you on that once I have it. Rather exciting!
Check out this drinking game that Paulie, Vanessa and I played Tuesday. Good times! I would say it very much helped us endure the litany of bullshit (aka "State of the Union").
http://www.drinkinggame.us/
Yay, beer.