The classic William Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” has countless adaptations — does there really need to be a new take on the 400-year-old tragedy? Directed by Tony-Award-winning Sam Gold, known for his work on other Shakespearean productions such as “King Lear” and “Macbeth,” “Romeo + Juliet” stars actors Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler as the titular star-crossed lovers. The play is staged at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York City and is only in production until mid-February. With a tagline of “The Youth are F**ked,” Gold aims to create a quirky, edgy Gen Z adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” trying to connect the play with a younger audience.
For the most part, he succeeds in his vision. However, some moments felt as though Gold was trying too hard to appeal to a younger generation, making the production feel like an older, outsider’s imagined version of Gen Z culture rather than an authentic representation. The staging of the production sets this play apart from many others on Broadway.
The seating surrounds the stage, which sits in the center of the theater. While the set design is limited, the stage does not restrict the action of the show. The characters move dynamically through the theater, running up and down the aisles and shuffling along the catwalks above the stage.
If you are getting tickets, try to pick seats on or close to the aisle because these seats bring you closer to the action. The unconventional use of the venue mak.